You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town!
The lyrics of this Christmas jingle act as a time machine transporting me to the days when I was young, innocent, lucky and naive enough to believe in the existence of a jolly plump fellow in a red and white suit, a snowy beard, who went ‘ho ho ho’ and called himself Santa Claus!
As children we all have believed in the legend of Santa Claus who toils away all year long at the north pole to fly on his reindeer carriage, climb down our chimneys and bring us our Christmas presents! As we grow older, cynical, too over smart for our own good and lose our innocence we ask the perennial and eternal question which in effect marks the end of our childhood!
‘Is there a Santa Claus?’ We google his origins like I just did and find out that the basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. The Orthodox Church later raised St Nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St Nicholas later became known as Weinachtsmann.
‘Is there a Santa Claus?’ We google his origins like I just did and find out that the basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. The Orthodox Church later raised St Nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St Nicholas later became known as Weinachtsmann.
In England he came to be called Father Christmas. St Nicholas made his way to the United States with Dutch immigrants and began to be referred to as Santa Claus! Which brings me to another question! One which we should all be asking ourselves. Weren’t we happier when we didn’t ask this question? When we didn’t google our query? And when we believed and strived to be better so that we wouldn’t be crossed off Santa’s list?
Santa to me represents the ultimate judge between good and evil, the foremost protector of our moral values and all in a manner that brings us joy and merriment! Would it be so bad to believe in him if it makes us better people? If it helps us regain some of the innocence of our lost childhood? If it makes us fear wrong doing and inspires us to do good deeds? If you ask me, Santa Claus does exist. Whenever we help the needy, bring a smile onto someone’s face, or stop ourselves from being selfish or mean, he beams proudly at us from his home in the north pole! Merry Christmas.
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