that it associates good behavior with being materially rewarded with presents from Santa Claus, [146] and

Typical objections to presenting Santa Claus as a literally real person, rather than a story, include:Jeremy Seal, Nicholas: The Epic Journey From Saint to Santa Claus, Bloomsbury, 2005, p. 199–200. ISBN 978-1-58234-419-5. Santa to visit virtually as Christmas grottos cancelled". BBC News. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021 . Retrieved 17 November 2020.

Saint Nicholas::: Places". Stnicholascenter.org. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009 . Retrieved 21 December 2010. Luzer, Daniel (26 November 2013). "What a Real War on Christmas Looks Like". Pacific Standard. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022 . Retrieved 12 November 2014. There were several anti-religious campaigns, the most dramatic of which occurred in the 1920s. According to a piece published by the School of Russian and Asia Studies: In 1925, Christmas was effectively banned under the officially atheist Soviets, and was not to return to Russian lands until 1992. The New Year celebration usurped the traditions of a Christmas Tree (Ёлка), Santa (known in Russian as "Дед Mopoз" or "Grandfather Frost"), and presents. In the Russian tradition, Grandfather Frost's granddaughter, the Snow Maiden (Снегурочка), always accompanies him to help distribute the gifts. Elves are not associated with the holiday. The state prohibited people from selling Christmas trees. There were even festivals, organized by the League of Militant Atheists, specifically to denigrate religious holidays. Their carnivals were inspired by similar events staged by activists after the French Revolution. From 1923 to 1924 and then again from 1929 to 1930 the "Komsomol Christmases" and Easters were basically holiday celebrations of atheism. a b Johnson, David Kyle. "Say Goodbye to the Santa Claus Lie". Psychology Today. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021 . Retrieved 12 December 2018. Mikulás— Hungary, Poland, Romania Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, a figure who brings treats before Christmas Santa Claus declared a Canadian citizen". Toronto Sun. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010 . Retrieved 24 April 2023.The modern figure of Santa is based on folklore traditions surrounding Saint Nicholas, the English figure of Father Christmas, and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas. Microsoft pulls plug on potty-mouth Santa, by John Fontana, 4 Dec 2007". Network World. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012 . Retrieved 9 December 2010. In Hungary, St. Nicolaus (Mikulás) or Father Winter (Télapó) comes on the night of 5 December and the children get their gifts the next morning. They get sweets in a bag if they were good, and a golden colored birch switch if not. On Christmas Eve "Little Jesus" comes and gives gifts for everyone. [51]