Column on Local Santa

Every year, a team of dedicated volunteers makes Rock springs Park a festival of lights. Every year volunteers organize the procession through the park and  operate a Santa House. They then get a share of the proceeds toward their civic organizations.

I know one of the Santa team personally, and he catalogs events, but he also won’t let accuracy get in the way of good stories. A smart Santa covers his red trousers with a thick red towel, so that the Christmas sound of squish does not get uncomfortable in a drafty Santa House. This is important as Santa’s pants have a way of sliding off if he stands up to dance to Jingle bells.

The children are offered a candy cane, and many of them want to share them with the entire group with them. Older children are uncertain if they even want to be there, but Santa tells them this is an elaborate way to get a family picture, and those are very important to people. They will look back on them when they are older, even as it is a terrible chore right now.

The children seem little impressed with the lights as they drive. Santa can’t believe how late some little children stay up, especially as Santa is usually in bed by 9. Recently a one year old took his first steps, not to parents, but to Santa. Pictures can be an issue, as most small children are afraid of Santa. Sometimes Santa sings to them, but that can often make it worse, if the child is at all musical. Santa gets used as a discipline delivery device, as parent swill threaten the child with sleigh bell retribution if the child has been misbehaving, but Santa has never, ever, heard a parent say that they  deserve special favor since the child has been especially good.

Santa has to be careful not to promise what cannot be delivered. Santa has heard too many tales of ill relatives. A young girl spoke of Grandma in the hospital. Santa won’t promise her to be home for Christmas, but will pray with the child there and then for Grandma to find restoration through hands greater than those found on the North Pole.

Santa says Merry Christmas, ho, ho, ho, but if someone says Happy Holidays, Santa is always gracious and wishes them the same in return. Of course Santa knows that holiday comes from the words holy days. Santa has no patience with those who imagine a war on Christmas for their ideological agenda, and Santa appreciates that people try to be polite to a variety of religious beliefs and disbeliefs. After all, people complained about Santa as part of the imagined war on Christmas pushing Christ out of Christmas not that long ago. One of Santa’s favorite Christmas songs is Happy Holidays, after all.

It breaks Santa’s heart to hear tales of need and poverty at any time of year, but especially this season. Too many times, Santa has been asked to get a parent out of jail in time for Christmas. Santa tells the older ones to write letters and to make drawings or crafts as they miss their parent. We have turned Christmas into such a family holiday that the whole season feels broken when someone is absent. Santa has a hard time holding back tears when a child tells him that Grandma doesn’t know who she is anymore. Santa has heard too many children ask if Grandpa can see them at Christmas, as Grandpa is in heaven.

For many of us, Santa embodies the Christmas spirit. It is one of jollity and utter generosity. May you rediscover the spirit of Santa and Christmas this season.