Santa Spirit

SANTA
SPIRIT

ARC © 12/8/14
(705 words)

I was five - bursting with excitement - we were in a new home; there was a fireplace - Santa was going to come down our very own fireplace.
I remember being precocious - I had checked it out - there was no opening. I reasoned, Santa must have magic dust and sprinkled it so that it opened up for his big body and all the toys in his very big bag.
Then that day etched in my mind forever when Mom held me closely and said she had to tell me a secret just between her and me. I remember the awe as she leaned in with this information - wow, a secret. She told me I was now a very big girl. I already knew that, of course, for when my younger sister was born, she was put in my arms. I was the `little Mommy’. So, of course, I was a big girl.
Then, the horrifying words…Santa wasn’t real!!! Worse, I had to pretend he was because my sister was too young so we were going to have a secret and not tell her so she could still have Christmas the way I used to have Christmas. My world was crushed. I didn’t want to be a big sister. I didn’t want to be a little mommy. I wanted to be little again; I wanted Santa.
It was the worse Christmas of my life…and I am now a blessed septuagenarian. Of course, as years progressed, I learned all about Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus; and, of course, I got it, but the memory of that little five year old being `told the truth’ etched deep enough that I vowed: not the same for mine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_there_is_a_Santa_Claus
So, I was ready…and oh, so, so easy. From toddler reading, the `spirit’ was taught…how there was a blessed historical Saint Nicholas who delivered goodies and put in children’s shoes left out on doorsteps and how his reputation and story had evolved into the present day Santa Claus where parents, relatives, and friends lovingly bought gifts and wrapped them for children and loved ones. Everyone loved the idea of caring and sharing so the spirit of Christmas has grown and grown with trees and Christmas is a very special feast day of a little baby named Jesus who was born to a mother named Mary and that the name Christmas means Christ’s mass and that also at the same time there is another blessed holiday called Hanukah which means feasts of lights celebrated by Jewish people where presents too are exchanged.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah
If I had known about Kwanzaa at that time, I would have shared that too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
It was easy then to go about the magic shopping of the holidays reinforcing the joy and beauty of loved ones who cares and share and also pointing out the disappointment of so, so many who do not have families that are able to do so; and that is why it is so important to be grateful and whenever possible try to give and share too.
The special holy/holiday was highlighted when my daughter was four and the repeated story of Saint Nicholas glittered extra in her eyes. She suddenly looked up and with a mischievous look went to all our closests and pulled a pair of shoes from each one…brought them to the front door and put them outside…knowing full well that her delighted parents would certainly find some fun gift to put in them too. It was that same year that my son’s adopted dad stayed up all night to build his very own hockey play game. To his joy and delight it was under the tree and of course he was well aware that Santa Claus dad had worked all night to make it; and even though so tired had to play a game with him that awesome day.
I have often prayed for those little ones who never had anyone to explain to them the spirit; instead cried to themselves with anguish and wonder of why oh why did they not receive the wonderment of gifts and others did. I have never stopped.
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