For some reason the inter-web-net has been mumbling about global warming yet again – I have no idea why this is coming around again, but sure enough, it has.

Now I am not here to debate if humans are causing the Earth to warm (we are) or if this is all part of a natural cycle (it isn’t), or that emissions such as carbon and methane are actually having an effect (they do); no I just want to discuss a very practical problem that I think we have overlooked:

Santa

That’s right, Chris Cringle, the man in red himself.  

You see this past Thanksgiving I ran up to Idaho to see the extended family, including my two current cousins and one that is on the way.  The discussion came around to if the oldest of the two still believes and if the younger of the two does as well.  The youngest is right of the cusp of coming to that all too painful realization, but still holds out (perhaps in hopes of milking more presents out of mom and dad).

This got me thinking about the third cousin who will be entering this world sometime in January – what kind of tales will we have to adapt in order to reflect the realities of our world?  One of the things that helps breakdown the belief is Santa, for example, is the all too real numbers argument – two billion Christians, say one billion of those being children, 24 time zones, so on and so fourth.  This all can be combated by magic of course, but what of Santa’s humble abode?

When I say Santa’s workshop what do you picture? Elves, reindeer, and the North Pole covered in snow. Earlier this year news outlets were reporting that there was a 50/50 shot that there would be no ice at the North Pole this summer while other sources report that iceless summers could be the norm by 2030.  When you combine these facts with the images of the North Pole and a Jolly St. Nick, the number of incongruities starts to add up.

How do we combat this? Again magic, after all Santa can probably just float his home above the ocean.  But we have built up over many generations this idea of a building, or buildings, all congregated around the pole. The buildings are on land and the elves walk on snow.  We will again have to update a part of our culture to reflect the realities of the world.  To be frank and honest, I do not think that this is right or fair.

Now do I honestly believe that the idea of Santa is going to die as global temperatures rise? Of course not.  But what I do believe is that a certain part of childhood innocence will die a little bit sooner than it ought to. Once again we should be attempting to preserve our environment for our, and our children’s sake.  The world is hard enough as it is – let children hold on to the idea of Santa for as long as possible. 

P.S. I would like to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas, except Chris Buttars whom I wish a heartfelt pagan winter solstice celebration.