Must Santa always be an fat old white guy?

[Kyrinasaj]

No, he doesn't really have to do be

[Amuaplye]

Seriously? It doesn't matter. He doesn't exist anyway.

[Olthar]

I think anyone should be able to play the role of Santa as long as they get the general aesthetic of fat, red coat, and jolly with elves and reindeer. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter.

[Reikoku]

Amaterasu is not associated with the winter solstice

A quick google begs to differ - her appearance from the cave is consistently mentioned to be celebrated at the solstice.

A few unsourced sites, most of them by neopagans.

[Katganistan]

When I was a kid I thought Santa Claus was Inuit since he lived in the North Pole, made sense to me.

Right?

[Vassenor]

As you all know, I’m very opinionated on him being a white old man.

Anything else just wouldn’t feel “canon” or like a real Santa to me.

He’s a mostly European legend and since the industrial revolution he’s been white. That’s the modern canon Santa.

To change his race would be like changing Harry Potter to a Japanese character or alternatively making Light Yagami Caucasian English.

It just doesn’t seem right.

So this is another case where everything has to be exactly as you remember it so you don't have an existential crisis?

[Geneviev]

As you all know, I’m very opinionated on him being a white old man.

Anything else just wouldn’t feel “canon” or like a real Santa to me.

He’s a mostly European legend and since the industrial revolution he’s been white. That’s the modern canon Santa.

To change his race would be like changing Harry Potter to a Japanese character or alternatively making Light Yagami Caucasian English.

It just doesn’t seem right.

So this is another case where everything has to be exactly as you remember it so you don't have an existential crisis?

Christmas is better without an existential crisis.

[Holy Tedalonia]

As you all know, I’m very opinionated on him being a white old man.

Anything else just wouldn’t feel “canon” or like a real Santa to me.

He’s a mostly European legend and since the industrial revolution he’s been white. That’s the modern canon Santa.

To change his race would be like changing Harry Potter to a Japanese character or alternatively making Light Yagami Caucasian English.

It just doesn’t seem right.

So this is another case where everything has to be exactly as you remember it so you don't have an existential crisis?

I don't have a problem with his point. It definitely helps out with kids asking why santas race changed.

If you think santas race should be change; you should probably change the race of greek gods, since ultimately that to would be counteracting your beliefs.

That being said I think its ok, to have a "asian santa" or "black santa", but theres nothing wrong with the traditional white santa. And I would prefer white santa only for the sake of consistency. Remembering were enticing children to believe a man breaks into every ones house every year, we might as well stay consistent.

[Vassenor]

So this is another case where everything has to be exactly as you remember it so you don't have an existential crisis?

I don't have a problem with his point. It definitely helps out with kids asking why santas race changed.

If you think santas race should be change; you should probably change the race of greek gods, since ultimately that to would be counteracting your beliefs.

That being said I think its ok, to have a "asian santa" or "black santa", but theres nothing wrong with the traditional white santa. And I would prefer white santa only for the sake of consistency. Remembering were enticing children to believe a man breaks into every ones house every year, we might as well stay consistent.

I don't see anyone saying that his race has to change and never be white again. Just that it shouldn't matter who a given group gets to wear the costume.

[Geneviev]

I don't have a problem with his point. It definitely helps out with kids asking why santas race changed.

If you think santas race should be change; you should probably change the race of greek gods, since ultimately that to would be counteracting your beliefs.

That being said I think its ok, to have a "asian santa" or "black santa", but theres nothing wrong with the traditional white santa. And I would prefer white santa only for the sake of consistency. Remembering were enticing children to believe a man breaks into every ones house every year, we might as well stay consistent.

I don't see anyone saying that his race has to change and never be white again. Just that it shouldn't matter who a given group gets to wear the costume.

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I don't see anyone saying that his race has to change and never be white again. Just that it shouldn't matter who a given group gets to wear the costume.

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

"Santa is actually multiple people, now fuck up timmy"

[Ryukyu]

modern portrayal of santa was made by coca cola. no reason to not change it up if we want to

[Ryukyu]

Seriously? It doesn't matter. He doesn't exist anyway.

portrayals of things that arent material are still important

santa exists as a concept

[Valgora]

modern portrayal of santa was made by coca cola. no reason to not change it up if we want to

Santa and Coca Cola

[Valgora]

When I was a kid I thought Santa Claus was Inuit since he lived in the North Pole, made sense to me.

Maybe Santa is Nordic?
They did settle in Greenland after all.

[Katganistan]

I don't see anyone saying that his race has to change and never be white again. Just that it shouldn't matter who a given group gets to wear the costume.

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

He's a magic elf with flying reindeer who visits every kid on earth in one night, and you think his appearance is going to trigger an issue for kids?

Here's a helpful hint. It's not the kids who are having the crisis over this. It's adults.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

He's a magic elf with flying reindeer who visits every kid on earth in one night, and you think his appearance is going to trigger an issue for kids?

Here's a helpful hint. It's not the kids who are having the crisis over this. It's adults.

Thats the thing though, while being a ridiculous myth, Santa garners popularity due to the effectiveness of the deceit done by the parents. Its harder for kids to be deceived if there are logic errors.

[Geneviev]

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

He's a magic elf with flying reindeer who visits every kid on earth in one night, and you think his appearance is going to trigger an issue for kids?

Here's a helpful hint. It's not the kids who are having the crisis over this. It's adults.

It's easier to say that the reindeer are magical than that Santa is a completely different person.

[Ifreann]

[Vassenor]

He's a magic elf with flying reindeer who visits every kid on earth in one night, and you think his appearance is going to trigger an issue for kids?

Here's a helpful hint. It's not the kids who are having the crisis over this. It's adults.

It's easier to say that the reindeer are magical than that Santa is a completely different person.

What makes you think the kids will care?

[Valgora]

Yes, but if one Santa is white and the other one is black a child will think his race changed and it would be strange to explain.

He's a magic elf with flying reindeer who visits every kid on earth in one night, and you think his appearance is going to trigger an issue for kids?

Here's a helpful hint. It's not the kids who are having the crisis over this. It's adults.

Santa ain't an elf.
The elves make the toys.

[Geneviev]

It's easier to say that the reindeer are magical than that Santa is a completely different person.

What makes you think the kids will care?

They always care. My sister and I decided that Santa wasn't real because of this too.

[Vassenor]

What makes you think the kids will care?

They always care. My sister and I decided that Santa wasn't real because of this too.

...no this still feels like people using THINK OF THE CHILDREN to cover for their own bigotry and deflect criticism.

[Geneviev]

They always care. My sister and I decided that Santa wasn't real because of this too.

...no this still feels like people using THINK OF THE CHILDREN to cover for their own bigotry and deflect criticism.

Santa should just always look similar, or parents shouldn't claim that he's real.

[Infected Mushroom]

I did not feel the change made sense. Since Heimdall was supposed to be Sif's brother (but they kept Sif white). That wasn't mentioned in the movie so maybe its a comic only detail.

Even overlooking that, the planet is supposed to be largely based on Norse mythology so... why would there be non-whites in Norse mythology?

Yeah I don't understand the change...

But why is this an issue?

The Vikings were familiar with North Africans calling them blámaðr (Blue men), there were Norse mercenaries who fought the Moors in Spain and North African Merchants visited Jutland. The point being if Asgard is a planet that was dominated by Norse culture, then there is no reason to presume that there wouldnt be blámaðr on too

As to being Sifs brother, I know a couple of families where half-siblings are different colours/ethnicities

Ok but then again

WHY????

Why is the change made? Why change character aesthetics so much?

It doesn’t seem natural