Pulcheria Chung, 18 St Mary's Canossian College
Santa Claus. First, a question. Do you like human beings or animals more? It's natural we feel more comfortable around our own species.
Santa's bushy, long, silver beard, plump figure and constantly smiling face not only suggest a touch of wisdom, but his laugh and the language he speaks are the same as ours. He's a figure we can relate to and it's a relationship of mutual understanding.
But bunnies are animals. They make us laugh and are cute, but we cannot relate to them or understand them. They do not have the same emotions as us and it's impossible to communicate with them.
Easter Bunnies are something real. Kids know from their science classes that they do not hatch colourful eggs for good children. It's easy to find rabbits in pet stores. Since we know lots about them, they're not special to us.
But Santa is different. He's a mystery. This offers more potential for fantasy and imagination, especially among kids. The more curious we are about him, the more excited we feel. Santa also gives parents the chance to treat their loving kids with surprises, so in a way, we all still have fantasies that Santa gives presents and reads our letters.