Need Santa More than Ever
December 18, 2008 at 5:04 PM 1 comment
This year we need the concept of Santa more than ever. Despite your beliefs, the idea of some beneficent entity watching over us and finding each of us deserving of a present, a symbol of joy and goodness — well, that is really sort of nice. The image of him placing our gift under the boughs of a beautiful, decorated tree feels kind of good during these uncertain times (especially when you are from Illinois like me!)
Anyway, I wanted to share with you my favorite experts from what I believe to be the consummate description of the Santa concept. It is from a piece written in 1897 (and those were tough times for some also!) It was written by an editor of the NEW YORK SUN in response to a little girl named Virginia, sending a letter to the editor asking, … “is there a Santa Clause.”
Here are my favorite quotes:
“…how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.”
“The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.”
“You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.”
“No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”
On behalf of AblePlay and all of us here toiling in our little workshops and working with children with special needs, we say –“You Go Santa Claus!” Keep pushing toys, play and the power of imagination. This world can use a dose of old-fashioned good, wonder and magic. Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!
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1. Carolyn | December 18, 2008 at 9:28 PM
As Peter Pan chants “I do believe in fairies, I do! I do!” and miraculously Tinkerbell springs back to life, we feel triumphant and joyful of tragedy averted and overcome. I think that perhaps we do need a little Virgina chant of “I do believe in Santa” this holiday. This coming from a woman who celebrates both Hannukah and Christmas (Jewish Mother and Protestant Father), my faith in Santa has always been strong. IYou can imagine my dismay when my 10.5 yr old Goddaughter’s Mom told me she does not believe anymore. I have done everything in my power to mention Santa and my belief whenever her 6 year-old brother is around to delay anymore of her nonesense. I remember reluctantly conferring with my Mom at age 11 that there really was no Santa Claus. Notice I state conferring because I following that statement to my mom, was the questioning “Is there?” The question lingered because I wanted to believe that Santa was REAL; and I wasn’t really growing up; and magic did exist. It is that part of me now that requires watching Ruldoph and baking cookies and wrapping presents with a care and fervor that rivals most 5 year olds or Will Ferrell’s character, Buddy, in “ELF.” (Unless, you count my sister, who also in her forties, concurs with me that watching Pixar movies regularly and being able to work in our pajamas should be allowed.) But I digress . . . yes I do! I do! I do so gladly with visions of sugar plums and spinning dreidels dancing in my head. I do because as an adult in the world now, we are so overrun with reality on tv, in the news and in our lives, that we need magic beliefs and tradition more than ever. We need to take the time to “unplug” our Wiis and brains and just watch the snow fall and practice waiting . . . for Santa . . .and be surprised by what he brings. I think now that I work at Lekotek, I keep the spirit of Christmas and the magic of santa with me 365 days because I witness what feels like a holiday most days in the surprise and delight of the families who come to us hoping for a miracle and in little bits they often get it.