Yes, Vocal, There Is a Santa Claus

Today, I downloaded a new app to my Roku. An ad popped up touting Christmas Plus, a free app offering nothing but Christmas shows, movies, and music to celebrate the holidays. I scanned its offerings and chose "The Miracle on 34th Street." No, probably not the version you're thinking of. This black and white version aired in 1955 and is less than an hour long. Though shortened, this rendition relays the same story as the 1947 movie, but in Cliffs Notes form. The story line culminates in a lawyer working to prove the existence of Santa Claus and that the person he represents is that iconic individual. The movie truly is a classic and an annual viewing must in our household.

I could have played Kris Kringle's lawyer. I can vouch for the existence of St. Nick.

Yes, Vocal...there is a Santa Claus.

I'm not sure when I stopped believing in Santa. I assume I was in the 7 to 8 year old range. My parents didn't break the news to me. It probably happened on the playground at school or during lunch while sitting at a long table in the cafeteria. Maybe I came to that realization on my own. I really can't remember. Fast forward, forty years later. My wife and I have been blessed with six great kids. Four of the six have graduated from belief in St. Nick, while the two youngest are clinging to the fantasy, awaiting Santa's visit on Christmas Eve. And actually, at the age of 50, I believe again as well.

A few years ago, I stumbled across a story about a young girl who sought the truth about Santa's existence. In 1897, eight-year old Virginia O'Hanlon asked her Daddy if Santa Claus existed. He urged his daughter to write a letter to The Sun, a the prominent New York City newspaper, posing the same question to the editorial staff. Virginia's dad said, "If you see it in the Sun, it's so."

The editor responded in part:

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus...."

He continued:

"Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see...Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world....No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and he lives forever."

I decided to dig deeper into Santa's legendary history.

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of year to a monk named St. Nicholas. Nicholas was born in about 280 A.D. in modern day Turkey. St. Nicholas modeled a life of generosity and kindness. Some stories suggest he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the sick and underprivileged. One of the most circulated stories about St. Nick, is the time he saved three poor sisters from being sold into servitude by providing them with a dowry so they could be married. Nicholas became known as the protector of children and sailors. St. Nicholas had a reputation for giving gifts anonymously, and some say he would throw bags of money into people's homes and sometimes even down their chimneys. He made these philanthropic visits under the cover of darkness to keep from being detected.

Nicholas passed away around 350 A.D. and the day of his death became an annual feast in which children set out food for Nicholas and his donkey. Legend states that the saint would come down from heaven at night and replace the edible goodies with toys and treats...but only for the good little boys and girls.

Over the centuries, the storytellers who celebrated the life of Saint Nicholas, began to embellish the story. Accounts of Santa today include a workshop at the North Pole, Elves, and flying reindeer. But all of this is derived from the simple and generous life of the original "Sinter Klass" or Saint Nicholas.

We've never pushed the Santa Claus tale in our household, but through Christmas classics like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Elf," the legendary material of Santa takes on a life of it's own. Our children do know about the original Santa Claus and how he modeled a life of giving and self-sacrifice. Saint Nicholas gave freely to emulate the life of the Wisemen as presented in the Gospel of Matthew. Nicholas also bestowed gifts to emulate the life of Jesus Christ.

When our kids unwrap gifts on Christmas morning, they each have a "Santa" gift and the rest of the presents come from family members. The oldest enjoy the fun of Santa and the youngest enjoy the wonder and the magical nature of his visit. Soon, they all will understand that Santa gifts are marked as such to remind us of the first "Santa," and the lifestyle that he chose in emulating the importance of giving sacrificially. Until then, we will set out cookies and milk by the fireplace on Christmas Eve and listen for the clippety-clop of reindeer hooves on the roof. But time passes quickly, and in a few short years, they will understand that we are all Santa, when we choose to give.