Ok, just read this in today's paper and just had to share. It's an AP coming out of Washington, and we know that all things that come out of Washington are drop dead true....LOL.
A poll was taken of 1,000 adults on Dec 12-14 and this is what they've come up with.
-86% believed in Santa as a child.
-More than 60% of those with children at home consider Santa important in their holiday celebrations now.
That's an approval rating President Bush and most in Congress could only dream about these days.
-If Santa were a politican, Catholics and the nonreligious would be his base.
-Santa is important to 60% of Catholics, 51% of those without a religious affliation and 47% of Protestants.
-Nearly half, 47% said Santa detracts from the religious significance of Christmas.
-36% said he enhances the religious nature of the holiday.
-91% of whites believed in Santa as a child while 72% of minorities did.
-1/4 of those now living in households with incomes under $25,000 did not believe in Santa.
-8 is the average age for a child's Santa reality check while 15% hung on to their belief over age 10.
One lady quoted in the paper who now had three grown children, like me, said she brought her kids up to focus on Jesus at the expense of Santa. Now she sees Santa as a symbol of giving, but also one of superheated commercialism.
Ron Montgomery in Louisville, KY said "It's a feeling. It's not like a ghost. It's an attitude."
I also found out when reading this article that there is an elite group that meets occasionally for international conventions. They are called the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas.
Now I think I've probably heard everything I ever wanted to know about Santa. How about you?