Most teenagers by now know the answer to the question: is Santa real? But many find themselves still entranced on Christmas morning, fond of holiday memories and feeling nostalgic, looking at the presents under the tree.
Christmas never loses its glow. It is not as bright as it was years ago, but the holidays are so moving for people, even as adults. Jaded as one may feel now that childhood Christmas won’t return, the season is rich with emotion, appreciation of family and friends, giving back, and kids’ willingness to believe in Santa is one of the most important aspects of it all.
Some parents do not allow their kids to believe in Santa, most of them thinking, “Why would I lie to my kid? If I’m buying the gifts, why give someone else the credit?” A fair enough point, but ultimately takes away from their children’s wonder during the holiday. However, many who were supposed to be non-believers found themselves believing anyway, insisting to younger siblings that Santa was indeed real, and asserting privately that some of the presents under the tree were from him instead of their parents. Believing in magic is essential to childhood, even for those who are supposed to be denied it.
That is what makes Santa and ultimately Christmas so special: magic. Many had an Elf On the Shelf, Santa’s eyewitness to their behavior, which was symbolic of parents’ effort to keep children believing. What we begin to appreciate later in life, after we have stopped believing, is our parents’ love. It does not stop at a small elf. Driving around to see Christmas lights, baking cookies, writing letters to Santa, not to mention the gifts and foregone credit for Santa’s present(s). That’s what Santa stands for, a sort of bank of appreciation for our parents. Sure Santa existed for years before our parents became parents, but it’s their effort that made him real to us. They might not have gotten the same from their parents, or maybe they did, but whichever the case, they wanted us to be happy.
A large amount of our enjoyment from Christmas as kids came from the presents. The time with family was, at least at a young age, secondary. Being materialistic as a kid is forgivable- sometimes a kid just wants toys- but eventually, those priorities swap places. Receiving presents is great, but what’s greater is the feeling of giving one. Maybe our parents felt less joy when we opened presents from Santa and thanked him instead, but felt conviction in their hearts knowing that, one day, we will thank them for more than the presents.
Santa means more than gifts once you have matured- realizing the truth about him feels disappointing, but necessary in truly understanding what Christmas is about. What our parents did to keep us believing is appreciated after that realization- Santa Trackers on Christmas Eve, an Elf On the Shelf, leaving the cookies eaten and milk drank come Christmas day- their effort is so meaningful now. Maybe it seems as though they lied: “Why would they let me believe in something fake for so long?” but Santa does not have to be real in order to teach us what Christmas means. Not receiving, but giving, purity of heart, and childhood innocence- Santa lives as an idea, and as long as we believe in gift-giving, childhood, and unconditional love, Santa is real to us.
