The Truth About Santa

Prologue:

As children we marveled at the mystery of Santa. Why does he live at the North Pole? How old is he? Who are the elves and how did they meet Santa? How did Rudolph get his bright red nose? The questions were nearly endless. Do Santa’s reindeers really fly? Why does he wear a red suit?
Of course, during the long long long Christmas Holiday preseason adults and children alike are bombarded with a seemingly endless parade of toy commercials, Christmas themed movies and books, and a veritable landslide of catalogs and flyers all promising to get you in the spirit! With all of this loud chorus of sell sell sell and buy buy buy it really isn’t so surprising that the children’s innocent questions about Santa are left unheard or at least unanswered.
Sadly most adults don’t know the answers…..sadder still very few even remember the questions. Somewhere between tricycles and bicycles most of us lose our innocent wonderment about magical things.
So sit back, if you will, and set aside for a time your worldly ways to consider this little tale.

The Truth About Santa

It’s true that Santa Claus will live forever,
no matter how hard some meanies have tried,
for Santa appeared in the blink of a tear
when the very first baby cried.

Santa’s first toy for that very first baby
was two rocks in a small gourd shell.
The baby laughed at the rattling sound
as though under some magical spell.

As centuries went by Santa always found
new ideas and new ways to make toys
for as people progressed so did their desires
for playthings to please girls and boys.

From crude little rattles to dollies that cry,
and say “Mama” when hugged real tight,
Santa progressed with each passing year
making toys that were always just right.

From marbles to balls and then balls that bounced,
toy chariots and new fangled cars,
from telescopes, microscopes, and even computers,
to rockets that play with the stars.

Long ago eight orphans loved Christmas so much
they decided to never grow up.
They searched far and wide till they found Santa Claus
and announced they had “come to join up!”

Well, old Santa was shocked, needless to say,
and could not change their minds, though he tried.
So he gathered together the eight little orphans
and hugged them, each one, as he sighed.

“I guess you’ve decided you’re here to stay,”
Santa said, as he took eight hats off the shelves,
“so I’ll make you all toymakers, junior class
of course, my eight little sweet little elves.

He sprinkled them all with special moonbeams
to give them their magical ways,
so they could stay small yet still grow wise
for all the rest of their days.

The oldest was Andro, who had just turned nine,
then there was Nathan, Steffan, Hojo, and Kringle.
Oh we must not forget that sleepyhead, Lazlo,
and of course Krissy and sweet little Jingle.

Two of the elves followed Santa so closely
that it confused our sweet little Jingle,
she never knew which part of Santa’s shadow
was Santa and which part was Krissy and Kringle!

Andro took charge of the toyshops production
and, of course, keeping Lazlo awake.
Krissy made dolls and Steffan made drums
while Nathan had robots to make.

Now old Santa was glad to have helpers, for sure,
but to keep the rest of the world’s children at home
he moved up north, as far as north goes,
and that’s very very far north of Nome.

Up at the North Pole in his brand new home
Santa worried about all of the snow.
He was afraid it might hinder his Christmas Eve trips
(guess who solved that problem…sleepy head Lazlo!)

“Santa,” he said in the middle of a yawn,
“in Lapland, as a matter of fact,
live nine reindeer, quite special reindeer,
who can fly at the drop of a hat.”

Not one to let a snowflake melt on his shoulder,
Santa searched high and low through the land
until he found the nine flying reindeer
(whose names you all know, I understand).

One last little story before we end,
two important tidbits I think you should know.
It’s about Santa’s red suit, his famous red suit,
and the reindeer with the shiny red nose.

You see, long ago, Santa wore casual clothes
like blue jeans and a pullover shirt,
and black boots of course, long black boots,
that never ever made his feet hurt.

On one particularly stormy Christmas
Santa stared anxiously into the night,
then gathered the elves and reindeer together
and said, “We can’t go! There’s not enough light.”

Comet and Blitzen cried and even Hojo was quiet
as they all thought of the sad girls and boys.
“What will the children think”, Santa sighed,
“if we don’t make our rounds with the toys?”

Rudolph hid under Santa’s red velvet blanket
while the others tried to decide what was right,
then Andro and Steffan cried out, “Look at that!”
from under the blanket came a beautiful light.

Nathan exclaimed, as Rudoph popped up,
“It’s his nose! It’s his nose that’s shining so bright!”
(Sure enough, dear reader, a brilliant red glow
shone clearly for miles that night.)

Rudolph’s nose was aglow like a miniature moon.
It was a dazzling sight to behold.
“What’s happening?” cried Krissie and Hojo together.
There were eighteen surprised faces all told.

Nathan took up the task of figuring out
Rudolph’s wonderfully odd eccentricity,
and he finally declared, “I’ve got the answer!
It’s the red velvets’ static electricity!”

He added, “However, it only will work
on little Rudolph’s funny shaped nose,
and it must be rubbed with Santa’s red blanket
at least every hour or so.”

So the elves began sewing, at Santa’s direction,
to turn the blanket into a red suit,
which Santa has worn every day since
(and you’ve got to admit it’s a beaut!)

Then sweet little Jingle made special bells,
which still carry her name to this day,
to hang all over Santa’s great sled,
so you can hear when he’s coming your way.

Now this is the story of our Santa tradition,
and it’s likely all true…I believe.
So snuggle up tight on that wonderful night
….Santa will always be there Christmas eve.