“Do you want me to call Santa?” and “you know he’s watching,” is a threat most children receive during their early years of life. From their very first Christmas, proud parents buy presents for their newborns claiming them to be from the very personification of the spirit of Christmas himself, Santa Claus. From the moments we can grasp the concept of Santa and his other mythical cohorts, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, kids are engulfed in the idea of having a connection with someone—or something—that’s not one of us.
A child’s convictions for Santa Claus become something that can encompass their very existence. The magic that children see through the faith they have in characters such as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny foreshadows what beliefs in God and a higher power they will have in the future; through the way they never get to see these mythical individuals, but are still able to receive their gifts. Without a doubt, every child will meet the point in their early years where they question the very magic that they have become devoted to. With these questions will come the inevitable discouragement shared by children across the globe that Santa Claus is not real.
It seems to many kids that Christmas can be but a magic-vacant shell of what it was prior upon finding out the truth about the fallacy that is Santa Claus. From that point forward all that is seemingly left of the Christmas season is time off from the responsibilities of school and mediocre gifts put under the tree by your parents.
There comes a time after a kid’s senior year, when they go away to college, and something begins to happen all over again. After many years of empty Decembers filled with seemingly meaningless Christmas songs being played on the radio, the Christmas season changes again, just like it had earlier in their youth—only this time for the better. Christmas becomes a time that is connected with home, family and magic all over again.
Not only is it the first time in a long while you will be able to sleep in your own bed but more importantly not have to shower in flip-flops and deal with a roommate. It is the first time seeing your friends after a long semester apart and the first time smelling your moms burnt lasagna in the oven that reminds you of what Christmas is. Christmas did not lose its magic when Santa was found to be a lie. The truth is, that the magic never really left. Often people claim that their greatest memories are of the times where things were not as serious, and when they were still young enough to be unaware of the truths of the world. I think my greatest memories will be the times I was aware of the truths of the world but still was able to see the magic.
