Wednesday, December 23, 2009

WHY A 'SANTA CLAUS'?

You know, I still believe in Santa Claus. That he does exist and like the snowman, is reborn each Christmas. Sound familiar? The reason I have always believed is the way my mother explained him, when my parents had to tell us, so we wouldn't be too disillusioned. Kids are cruel you know. They love to spread their hurt to other children.
So, that Santa could come and bring us our presents, Mom and Dad always sent my brother Bud and I down to our grandparents, to give them their Christmas tree, set it up and decorate it.
By the time we returned home, wow, lo and behold, Santa had come. We missed him again. We sometimes tried to hurry with the tree, but, grandma and grandpa, found a way to detain us. The timing of course had already been worked out ahead of time.
Bud, being 4 years older than me, had already been told. It's amazing that he kept the secret for me. How Bud found out was not how mom planned.
When it was just him, mom and dad would wait for him to go bed and go to sleep. However, that one time came along. He woke up as they were putting out the presents.
He said, "awww, I knew it was you guys." He was very upset to have found out that way.
" Why do grownups do that? To make fools of us kids?"
Mom and Dad tried to explain, but, he was just really so disturbed that parents would purposely lie to their children. I don't remember how old he was at the time. But too young for it. Maybe 4 or 5. Bud was 4 years older than me. But, after I was born, he kept the secret. Which was really amazing, considering his ambivalent feelings toward me.
So when It came time for me to be told, Bud waited to see how I would take it. I did ask Mom why a Santa. I think by the time I had come along, Mom had had time to think of a good answer.
Santa Claus is the symbol of the spirit of Christmas. The manger event is the reason. Santa is for the magic and miracles that can happen. The playfulness Santa is the secular celebration. Magic and wonder. A time of unexpected things. Warmth, love togetherness, thinking of others. a chance to do for someone else.
She explained it much better than that. Her explanation, softened the blow, and I was not disappointed that Santa was not 'real'. But, he is as real as we may want him to be.
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So, that's why I still believe in Santa Claus. To me, he is another way to celebrate .
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