When I was little, Christmas was a two week long festival. Our decorated house was comparable to the Griswolds and our home was loud and always full of people. My parent's had a plastic table cloth on our usual bare dining room table everyday from mid December until New Years day. They had coffee Christmas cups and Christmas plates stacked on the table with creamer and sugar and lots of Christmas cookies for all our friends and family that would stop by. Christmas music always played on the radio. As each night everyone would sing Christmas carols, tell stories of Christmas past, and indulge in typical everyday conversations. Even the little kids sat around the table with all the adults and were part of the love.
When I was very little, Santa arrived on Christmas Eve to deliver our presents. We would have dinner at my grandparent's house and upon arrival back home, Santa would be sitting in the rocking chair with presents surrounding him. Santa, of course, was my poppy (the one who left dinner early to get a head start). Our thoughts of Santa were that he was a jolly, kind fellow, who had the soul of a saint. My brother and I would flock to him without hesitation, as we would talk about our Christmas wishes. He stayed until all our presents were opened and hugged us goodbye as he rode off in his sled, back to the North Pole.
I could remember being older and trembling with excitement as I patiently waited to fall asleep on Christmas Eve. The evening took FOREVER to pass and when I was finally dressed in my Christmas jammies, I couldn't stop the nervous jitters, as I lied in my bed. Before we were able to read, my mom would read us Christmas stories and even as I aged, I then read myself Christmas stories. Eventually, Christmas morning arrived and Santa never disappointed.
When I look back over my childhood memories of Christmas, the parts most prevalent are not of all the toys, but the magic behind it all. The routine of friends and family gathering, the colorful Christmas lights shining in the background, Christmas music on loop, and wonderful conversations with lots of food. To me, believing in Santa meant believing in the magic that made Christmas so joyful. The anticipation of a generous man stopping in our home to bring us presents and believing in something bigger than just December 25.
The proof in that statement is evident when I stopped believing in Santa. I still received present from my parents, however, the joy was all gone. There wasn't a surge of jitters on Christmas Eve. The excitement fell to the waste side. It turned out, Christmas was just December 25. A holiday where family gathered together like all the other holidays, but nothing more.
However, the magic eventually revived itself when my children were born. Each Christmas, I am able to relive those same feelings I had when I was a child. The joy and anticipation on Christmas Eve is just as prevalent now as it was then. Anymore, Christmas isn't just another day, it's magic again.
Santa is the main event in my home for my two children. We decorate the entire house the week before Thanksgiving and our tree and village is set up the Saturday after. Christmas music is on loop and our doorways are strung with green garland and encapsulated with colored lights. And each of us has a decorated tree in our bedrooms. If I close my eyes long enough, I feel like I am a child again myself.
Presently, we continue the same traditions with my children, that we had when I was a child. My parents and brother come over to my home for Christmas Eve dinner. But before dinner, my children and I have the laptop open to the Santa tracker and we watch as he travels over the areas. I tell them he's getting close and he'll be here after they're both sound to sleep. Our conversation becomes interrupted by the sound of sleigh bells outside our door. Both of my children pause, trying to absorb what they're hearing, then quickly glance back at the tracker. We all run to the door, already knowing what to expect, as we see Santa standing there with a sack of toys. (Santa, being my brother, who is kind enough to continue the tradition). He tells them he was off delivering presents, but saw how beautifully our home was decorated and wanted to stop by to see both of them, while they were awake. He sits on the couch and talks with both children about what they wanted. (We never mention the good and bad concept, I'm not fond of that idea). He hands them some wrapped packages and stays until they are opened. He bids them farewell and tells them to sleep well, and leave lots of milk and cookies, because he'll be back in a few hours.
*We were actually going to stop doing the Santa arrival this year, because we were worried my daughter would know it was my brother. However, my daughter has talked so much about how she hopes Santa stops by to see her and her brother, because she loves him so much. So, we decided to do it again. Although, Santa will be wearing some sunglasses and a higher beard to block most of his face.*
They then dress in their Christmas jammies and are read countless Christmas stories, before awaiting the arrival of the big morning surge...
In addition to the magic of Santa, this year, I've also added even more magic to the season. We have two kindness elves that have arrived, a boy and a girl. They are here to help my children continue to appreciate all the non materialistic things that life has to offer. The elves also used their elf magic to build a door that allows them access in and out of our home, so they can return back to their own home at night and spend time with their loved ones. Unlike the elf on a shelf, these elves do not get into mischief, but instead, encourage helpful, kind, and thoughtful behaviors. They are allowed to be touch and even encourage lots of hugs and kisses. They are not in our home to spy on my children and report back to Santa, but instead, are here to join our family and celebrate the Christmas season with us.
In our family, the same traditions are passed down from each generation. And I'm sure when my children look back upon these years, they'll remember the love that was shared, not just how much they received. Toys are only a small bonus for Christmas. To my children, it's the decorating, the cookie making, the elves arriving, the anticipation, the joy of seeing Santa, and all the family and friends stopping by to spend quality time with us. Christmas is a feeling that you get around the middle of December. It's not something you can touch or see. It's within you. Additionally, it's something I want my children to always have. To have the mindset to believe in something that they cannot see, but feel in their hearts. And when they grow older and stop believing in Santa, I'm sure they won't feel like they were lied to, but instead, they'll know the magic of Santa has always existed.
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