Underground Bunker

Santa Does Exist

This is a letter to the editor that was published in the Mobile Press Register. A must read!


Methinks Frances Coleman's Dec. 3 column, "Lovable, yes, but remember, he's a legend," was written while she was sucking on a lemon. Or at best, she is still recovering from an unresolved childhood trauma when she found out that Santa Claus does not exist.
Referencing the famous letter by Francis P. Church, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus," didn't do a great deal, either, to prove or disprove Santa's existence. While Church's letter was certainly beautiful, but so filled with altruistic meanderings, it did not address Virginia's initial query.
I recall reading it when I was quite young. I felt Virginia was given a great letdown. The letter, famous as it is, is so filled with hyperboles, metaphors and evasiveness that a youngster might be inclined to run to adults for
So, I'll begin the heart of this letter to Mrs. Coleman thusly:
Dear Frances, Yes, there was a real Santa Claus! He was a Catholic bishop in Myra, Turkey, in the third century. And, yes, he did wear a red cape, trimmed in ermine, and a red cap covering his ears, also trimmed in ermine (almost identical to the cap that Pope Benedict XVI was recently seen wearing). And, can you believe it, he had a snowy, white beard. The many Santa Clauses that sit and pose for photographs with children are dressing like the original real Santa Claus and unknowingly are honoring him and perpetuating a great tradition.
One day, Bishop Nicholas heard that three sisters were about to be "loaned" into prostitution in order to raise money for their dowries so that they could wed. So, saddling up his horse (not reindeer), he secretly went to the girls' home and dropped three small bags of gold in their windows. Today, that act is symbolized by three spheres or globes hung over pawnshops the world over.
In the Anglo-Saxon world, Bishop Nicholas is honored as Santa Klaus because the German name for Nicholas is Klaus. Hence, Santa -- holy, because the bishop was later and even then recognized for his holiness -- was paired with his name: Santa Klaus. Adding to the verbal conundrum is the "nickname" for Santa Klaus, Saint Nick.
The European world quickly picked up on the gesture of Bishop Klaus of distributing gifts on the 6th of December. However, instead of little bags of gold, good little boys and girls were given candy.
Today, in place of candy they receive X-Boxes, video games and Play Stations. Good little mommies and daddies receive tool boxes, weird-looking ties and spa gift certificates.
The celebration of Santa Claus is tied in with Christmas because of the gift-giving and the great gift given to us by God: the child Jesus.
There is a fine line between myth, legend and reality as well as historical liberties that are usually taken. Where legend begins and truth enters is so enmeshed with similar corollaries that sorting them out becomes an exercise in futility.
To deny a child the momentary luxury of believing in a most benign and loving creature as Santa Claus is pedantically unkind. When children are ready, they will let go of those beliefs and ideas that are a part of growing up, as assuredly will they give up believing in a real Mickey Mouse, Mother Goose or Donald Duck. Let them have their moment in the sun.
Santa Klaus (Bishop Klaus) was real. True, he did not scoot around in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. But he did wear red and white, he did have a white beard, he did give gifts to children, and he did inspire a wonderful joy that has lasted for centuries.
We call him Santa Claus -- and may children for many years to come believe in this legend based on truth, who stands for joy, gift-giving and, somewhere buried in commercialism, happiness, which this bruised world so desperately needs.
CHRISTOPHER WELCH
Fairhope
Editor's note: Blue-ribbon letters are those selected by our staff as being especially interesting or well-written. Authors will receive a lapel pin and an invitation to lunch with Press-Register editors.

posted by David @ 3:15 PM