Sunday, December 06, 2009

Advent Calendar - December 6 - Santa Claus



Today's advent calendar theme from Geneabloggers is Santa Claus.  Did you ever write a letter to Santa?  Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list"? Do you still believe in Santa?

I'm sure that I wrote a letter or two to Santa Claus at some point growing up, though I cannot remember any particular letter.  I believe that one time we left a note for him telling him where we were because we had gone to Tennessee to visit my aunt and uncle.  I do remember an incident with my daughter at my parents house where a note was left for Santa while we went out, and when we returned there were presents.  This even is captured on VHS tape, and reminds me that I need to transfer those tapes to DVD format.

I can remember visiting Santa at the local Elks lodge and sitting on his lap with my list.  I know that my parents probably have a photograph or two when we did this.  Also, there are recordings where dad asked us each what we wanted for Christmas.  One incident with my brother and Santa occurred when he started out his wish list with "First, let me tell you what you forgot to bring me last year...".  You can believe that gift was under the tree that year!   


I believed in Santa long after many of my schoolmates stopped believing, I guess I just couldn't prove that he didn't exist.  I never caught my parents playing Santa, nor did I ever sneak around looking for presents.  I guess I was a good little boy! LOL!  


As an adult, I do not place much emphasis on Santa, and try to keep our household focused on Jesus. Our house doesn't have much in the way of Santas.   But I understand the joy that the little ones who still believe find in anticipating what lies under the tree on Christmas morn.


2 comments:

Sherry - Family Tree Writer said...

I, too, believed in Santa long after my classmates did. I think I just wanted it to be true! (I still do!)

We focus on Jesus also, and I've heard many state that if you teach your children to believe in Santa and they find out that's not true, will they cease someday to believe in Jesus as well.

I didn't cease to believe, and would like to believe that children can tell the difference in their parent's dedication to the fact as opposed to their fun in the fantasy.

May you have a joyous Christmas!

Travis LeMaster said...

Sherry -

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Thank you for your comments and encouragement.