Groups in Germany and Austria have launched campaigns protesting the commercialization of Christmas. The main target is Santa, an American import who doesn't represent what the holiday is all about.
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The Frankfurter Nicholas Initiative is a campaign founded by Roman Catholic priest Eckhard Bieger who's alarmed by the growing commercialization of Christmas in Germany, and wants to put St. Nicholas, a fourth-century monk, back in the Christmas spotlight where he used to be... To counter this trend, the Frankfurt Initiative has launched pro-Nicholas campaign. They show kids how to turn chocolate Santas into chocolate Nicholas figures and hand out stickers in stores to proclaim the area a "Santa-Free Zone."
"St. Nicholas was a man who helped the poor, saved people who were unjustly condemned, freed prisoners," explains a campaigner. "You could say he was a forerunner of Amnesty International. Santa is much less than that -- just about giving gifts."