I have been reading some great posts on Facebook about different Christmas traditions. I will try a few new ones, but wanted to share something I talk about every year. Many years ago I was at a Relief Society activity where my kids' preschool teacher was a guest speaker. She shared some traditions and ideas. One was the way in which they "break the news" about Santa to their children. A letter. From Santa. On the tree, Christmas morning. She talked a little about what the letter contained. I was so intrigued, I called her up the next day and asked if she would mind sharing a copy of her letter. She is so kind and agreed. Every year since, it has come up in conversation. I just called her and asked permission to post, and SHE AGREED! So, Miss Debbie Hansen, on behalf of my friends and I, THANK YOU! for helping us and blessing us with your talents so we can bless our children! Here it is....
Dear _____________,
I understand you have been wondering about Santa Claus. Whether or not I am real. Now that you are ten, I thought I'd write this letter to explain.
First of all, you must read this letter privately. This is only between you and me. I am taking you into my confidence and I expect you to keep the secret of Santa.
Many, many years ago, there was a very poor village with many children. Christmas, way back then was celebrated only by exchanging gifts with each other. Just some small token in remembrance of the gifts brought to the Christ Child by the shepherds and the wise men. But this village was so poor that they had nothing to exchange.
In this village there lived a very kind gentlemen who loved the people in his village, especially the children. As winter drew near, he worried about the children and decided to do what he could for them. He gathered clothing and carved small toys and trinkets for each child in the village.
In those days, the children left their shoes outside the door to keep their houses cleaner. On Christmas Eve, the kind, old, gentleman put on his warm mittens, big black boots and big red fur cape and quietly went through the village putting a few gifts and some goodies in each shoe. When the families awoke the next morning, what a glorious surprise! It was a miracle! The miracle of Christmas! The children were delighted and the parents were touched that someone would do such a wonderful thing for their children. It brought such a feeling of happiness and love to the village. You see, it takes someone totally unselfish to do such a service. The old gentleman received nothing in return for his kindness. No one even knew it was him. But he felt such a warmth in his heart when he heard the squeals of delight and saw the smiles on the faces of those sweet children, he decided to do this every year.
Over the years, the parents in the village found out what was happening and wanted to thank their "Father Christmas". He told them that he needed their help. Word had spread and more and more children wished for "Kris Kringle", "Pere Noel", or whatever their language called "Santa Claus".
The kind gentleman asked the parents in the village to help him keep the Spirit of Christmas alive. They began to give many of the gifts themselves because he couldn't serve all the children. But only those who could give with love and unselfishness were allowed to help. Those who told the secret or who couldn't believe in the Spirit of Christmas received no help. If you stop believing in Santa Claus, you lose the spirit of loving and giving that the gift means. So then, the gift is not important.
You see, it is not the gift that makes Christmas. It doesn't matter who brings the gift. It is the love with which the gift is given that is important. THAT is the spirit and true meaning of Christmas.
Part of the magic of Christmas is the sparkle in the eyes of the children as they open their packages. It is the wonder the feel, knowing that there is someone who loves them enough to make their wishes come true. Is there someone around you today that loves you and wants you to be happy? Do you have a "Santa Claus" in your life? I think you can probably figure out who that is. Once you do, then you become part of the magic. You must help carry the secret. And when you grow up and have children of your own, you will feel that same love for them and want their Christmas to be as wonderful as yours have been.
I know this letter is a little long, but it is important that you know that we don't talk about it. If too many people start talking, the secret will be out and Christmas will be ruined. So if people ask you if you believe in Santa Claus, you just smile and say, "of course I do".
I love you. Be good.
Love, Santa Claus
Phew! What a relief to have a solution to that old nagging feeling of "how am I going to "break the news"?!
This is the original letter with her child's name taken out. My husband and I edited it a bit to go with our family beliefs and talked to each child about the correlation between the initials SC between Santa Claus and the Spirit of Christmas. We took out the italicized part and signed it SC.
We put the letter in the middle of the Christmas tree with their name on it the Christmas they were/are ten. When they find it, we just whisper to open it in their room later, when they are alone. When we notice them escape, we wait and go in to have a follow up conversation and see if they have any questions and just hug them for a long time.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
Follow-up....there has been a very interesting thread on my Facebook group about this topic. If interested, check it out http://www.facebook.com/groups/259558987411627/
Also, this link was posted on that thread and I really liked what she did.
http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/truth-about-santa
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