I'd argue true Santa spirit is about giving freely which does against capitalism, and like all four, capitalism will exploit any popular figure. Grinch is antimaterialistic in nature but there's Grinch themed shit everywhere to buy.
this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2025
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Yeah it really depends on if Santa purchases his presents, or magically clones/copies them.
Hmmm even then it's hard to point it in a particular direction.
Yeah, the other three work, but this does the character of Santa dirty. He's not responsible for his image being exploited for profit any more than Jesus or the Grinch is.
Yes. I am Grinch.
So I am Jesus?
I'm Ron Burgundy?
hOrni Jesus
How is the Grinch anti-capitalist? Small-hearted Grinch hoards all the presents but his goal is to make others sad/not sing, iirc. And after his heart-soze increase he is more generous and contrite... but is either of those behaviors anti-capitalist?
If we stretch and pretend the Grinch returning stolen property is "generous sharing" and that's anti-capitalist then we'd probably have to rethink Santa too (even tho often used as a prop in commercials).
The Grinch saw all the commercialized trappings of Christmas and hated it because that's what he thought it was all about. It was only after he saw the Whos still celebrating even without the commercialization that he understood the "true meaning of Christmas" and wanted to be nice to them instead.
The anti-capitalist part was his motivation in the first place. If anything, returning the stuff was an erosion of that belief (I don't think it was -- I think it was more neutral than that -- but if you had to debate it through that lens the point could be argued).
The Jim Carrey one leans into the anti-consumerism messages, which I guess isn't explicitly anti-capitalist but they go hand in hand.
The Jim Carrey one completely undermines the original story's message because the Grinch is right - the Whos really are materialistic assholes.
The last time I saw this meme I argued that the grinch’s spot is better filled by the Reverend Billy and the church of stop shopping.
Krampus?
Pro christmas? Maybe not since saint nick is actually 6th of december. Depends on your locale. He punishes bad children (none of pro or against capitalism). I'd put him in the middle actually.
Yeah I was kinda thinking smack in the middle lol. Krampus ties it all together!
The fuck does Santa have to do with capitalism?
Maybe it's because Coca Cola invented basically everything about modern Santa and he has become a symbol of consumerism?
And you lettim them do that like that? :o
Nah but honestly, giving each other gifts does not mean go to the local shop and pay a lot. You can instead spend effor and create something for someone. But the easy way is the commercial one. Like, you know, pre-commercial Santa, the actual Santa Claus
Though I'd lie if I said I don't connect cola and christmas :/
Yes, of course you can (and you definitely should in your personal life) disregard all the cultural context and baggage that has largely been attached to Christmas and Santa and just celebrate a time of vacation, family, love and giving... but imho the chart assumes to represent a cultural understanding of figures from story and myth that have significant symbolical value in modern, americanized, western culture and to represent the cultural context of those symbols.
So to disregard the cultural context in a chart that tries to show cultural context is... bold.
I swear this isn't an attack, however it sounds. Cross my heart, etc.
But the Santa/Coke thing DEFINITELY has to be an America thing, because I never make that connection. It doesn't even occur to me.
Even the big, red, jolly, fat Santa doesn't make me think of coke (the fizzy drink or the illicit substance).
I guess the connection never made it over the Atlantic?
Even the big, red, jolly, fat Santa doesn't make me think of coke (the fizzy drink or the illicit substance).
It may not make you think of it, but Coca-Cola ads from back in the day were what popularized the depiction nevertheless.
Before that, Santa often looked skinnier and wore a larger variety of colors, among other differences.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/how-santa-brought-coca-cola-cold
Coca-Cola wasn't the first manufacturer to try and use Santa as a lead-in for their product. Ivory Soap is shown at the beginning of the article. So once the idea of commercializing Christmas took off, everyone jumped on. The reason for Coca-Cola to try a connection was simply to keep sales numbers up during the winter, as they were seen as a summer drink.
Oh I never imagined they were.
I was just commenting on the Coke/Santa thing.
It's not something I'd ever thought of.
Actually now I think about it I don't associate Santa with anything in particular. Aside from - you know - Christmas.
Must be an American thing then, to commercialize everything. Santa is used to sell just about anything.
Yeah.........
We get lots of Christmas adverts over here, but they seem to be mostly about families and shops.
If Santa does appear he seems to be in the periphery of things. He's not the driving force (I'M SANTA AND I CAN SELL YOU THIS STUFF) more of a "Come down to for Christmas and we'll make your family happy. You can also see Santa!"
He's kind of a bonus thing on top of the other things. Not the main reason for doing it, if that makes sense.
Heh, I'm from EU tho. Ads were runnin year to year and I, as a kiddo, made connection.