I don't get it. At the end, a girl is talking to the narrator and she says "He's very good isn't he? Is that why he's called 'Santa' Claus?" Am I missing something or is it just something a child would say that doesn't necessarily make any sense?
Anyway, best animated Christmas movie ever.
Santa means "Saint". Being a saint is usually synonymous with being considered good.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
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Santa Claus is also called, among many other names, St. Nick. Saint means being very good. Guess Santa is also that as well.
shareIt makes no sense to me either. It seemed that there was a scene & some script missing.
shareI guess you didn't read my reply.
Santa means "Saint". Being a saint is usually synonymous with being considered good.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
No, I did read it. Sainthood requires canonization by the Pope. Besides, there is no explanation of how the word 'saint' becomes 'santa'. Hmmm, could it be that 2 syllables are easier to pronounce than one? Nah, and the show does not even try to explain it.
Santa Claus is an Americanization of Sinterklaas
I always thought it was an evolution of St. Nicholas, but what do I know?
shareVery old post, but
>>>Sainthood requires canonization by the Pope. Besides, there is no explanation of how the word 'saint' becomes 'santa'<<<
Technically, that is incorrect. Every person who has achieved heaven is a saint. The ones the Church has canonized are those recognized as having achieved heaven; that is those we are sure are in heaven. Their is actually a fairly strict process that is required.
In addition, saint can be used symbolically to indicate someone is good and holy.
I don't think it was necessary to explain the relationship of saint to santa, especially since, at the time at least, it was generally known.
That may be so, but it doesn't explain that in the film. It would have been nice to add. To people that already know that (and a lot do), cool. But some don't, and I would bet many children don't.
I think it was oddly edited, myself.
And "Sinterklaas" is a contraction of the Dutch name of Saint Nicholas, so it all comes back to sainthood.
shareI was 11 years old when it premiered on ABC. My parents never taught me much about religion, but I knew that "Santa" meant saint. I was never confused at all by the question or SD's answer.
Have fun. Lifes' too friggin' short.
SinterKlaas is celebrated December 6 and this date is not mentioned at all in the show. Neither is carrots and hay left in wooden shoes for the horse of Sinterklaas
Santa=Saint in another language. And it does not matter which language because it is not mentioned that Santa=Saint in any language in the show.
And back to the OP, the show does not successfully explain why he is called 'Santa Claus'
This show is not a documentary, it is a children's show about the modern concept of Santa Claus which got much of its mytho from Sinter Klaas. Had it been an educational documentary, then your complaint would be more valid.
The point I was trying to make is that I understood what it meant when I was 11 years old and I was no more intelligent or religiously educated than any other child at the time. It didn't NEED to be explained. It doesn't take much reasoning to extrapolate that Santa means Saint, especially since he is known as "Saint Nick" as well.
Have fun. Lifes' too friggin' short.
The point I am making is that I agree with the OP it is not explained in the show. It made no sense to me as a child and it still makes no sense to me as an adult.
>>then your complaint would be more valid<< It is apparent that you find validity as you responded TWICE. I don't know why you feel compelled to judge me... Right back at you: It must be distressing for you to look down from your ivory tower at the rest of humanity.
My sincere apologies if my statements made you feel as if I was judging you. I assure you, it was not my intention. I was merely supporting my position in this debate as were you. Referring to your arguement as invalid was admittedly a poor choice of words. It was not meant to insult you nor place myself on a higher level and I again apologize. We'll just have to agree to disagree on the "Santa" thing.
Have fun. Lifes' too friggin' short.
I think anyone with basic education knows that Santa is a word translated to mean Saint, and doesn't need to be explained to most normal people. Saint Nicholas ("Sinterklaas", often called "De Goede Sint" — "The Good Saint")
shareI am glad I had extra education [instead of basic] and am least abnormal [instead of most normal] to be able to question this Rankin/Bass show
shareWell, I did. Considering that I was six at the time, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. I didn't understand the reference at the time, but I let it ass since I had no choice It did baffle me a bit.
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