Over the past two months I have been writing a Christmas story. It is about Santa Claus and the remarkable sequence of events that befell a young girl living on the edge of the rainforest in Palawan, a tropical island where I live.

Of course, for such an apparently far fetched story, it was important to check out the facts. That was easy to do here in Palawan, but how could I interview somebody quite so famous as Santa Claus, who lived far away in a land where I would freeze to death as soon as I got off the airplane?

Well, it turned out to be more easy than I thought, and we met, believe it or not, close to a big firework display in Southern England on November 5th 2005. How I got there and how he got there, I am not allowed to say. In fact, I cannot say, simply because I do not know for sure. I can only speculate. My passport shows I was here; my wife tells me I was here; I tell myself I was here. But I was there, and this is what I can report from the notes I took at the interview. There was much more, but I am sworn to secrecy, and Santa Claus has such amazing powers, I would not go against his wishes.

These are the 3 questions, and answers, I am allowed to reveal.

Q1 There is much speculation amongst historians about your origins. Can you tell us, to put this straight once and for all?

(Roars of laughter from Santa) “The last people you should ask are historians. They can only look backwards. What a dumb life they lead; they can never find the truth like that. Life is multi dimensional; time is multi dimensional. What do historians and scientists know about all that? The truth is like a sun with all it’s planets rotating round. If you just look backwards, you miss the whole spectrum, and you miss the sun itself.

“What are my origins? My good man, you’re just a simple soul, like everyone else on the planet, so I know you mean ‘when and where do I come from’. I do have a birthday; in fact, I have many birthdays, and they are all true. But for your narrow little world, I was born in 701 AD.”

“But,” I said, “all the historians…….” his glare told me to be quiet about historians. That seemed like a good idea, given that they got it all totally wrong.

Santa was a tolerant and gentle man despite his massive powers. “And, young man” ( I had not been called that for a long time) he said. “You will not believe where I was born. It was not the North Pole, though I go there often. It was not Lapland, where I do now live. It was Central Africa.”

I was dumbfounded; he just laughed at me. I moved on quickly.

Q2 I have to ask, Santa, how do you get around the whole world like that, every Christmas, delivering gifts to so many millions of children? In less than 2 days. It’s just not..”

Before I could finish, he had put his hand firmly on my arm to stop me.

“Of course it’s possible. You think it’s not possible because your “scientists” say so, not because of the truth. Only the truth matters. And it is possible, because I do it every year. You say “not possible” because of the way you all look at things; narrow and blinkered. Even my blinkered reindeer know more than your silly scientists; so forget it’s not possible. I do it, and young man”, (I was really beginning to like this guy), he went on, “I just love every moment of it.”

“But……?” I was about to ask, but he stopped me again with a firm hand.

“Ok,” he said gently. “Let me just tell you about something. In the 8th century I was exploring brainwaves; your scientists don’t have an inkling yet about the brain, how it works, the brainwaves and what they mean and how you can use them. I was able to discover great things, things all the scientists have been too narrow minded in the past to seek out, understand and utilize.”

I was in his spell, listening intently to every word. He was about to reveal….

“Have you heard of Quantum Chimney Descent Theory? No, of course not. By 820 AD I had it all worked out; a year later I had discovered Time Corridors. You know time corridors? No, of course not, but I tell you young man, that was what did it, that was what enabled me to deliver gifts at Christmas all over the world.

“I then developed the Time Corridor Interweaving Theory. For the next 30 years I started to put them both into practice, and then bring them together. That my dear friend is how I get around the whole world like that and deliver gifts: by exploiting the Quantum Chimney Descent Theory in unison with Time Corridor Interweaving.

“Do you understand now?” he asked.

Well, who was I to argue, I might sound like a historian or scientist? So, that was it, I had the answers to the greatest Santa Claus question of all. I did not have a clue what he was talking about, but I am sure he anticipated that.

We went on to the final question as the firework display reached its climax.

Q3 What happens to all the mince pies and glasses of sherry that millions of children leave out for you?

Santa roared with laughter again, “oh, all the things people leave out for me; they are so sweet those children.
“But you know, their parents should tell them the truth; they should not deceive. It is their parents who drink the sherry and other alcoholic drinks. It’s just their excuse. I don’t drink the stuff, never did.

“But the mince pies, yes I do love a good mince pie. The children are so considerate leaving them for me, and I eat as many as I can in Australia. But over a million? I have to tell you, those mince pies get spread around all sorts of places. The creatures of the oceans and the forests are very much experts on mince pies now. But the year before last…..”

Santa saw my expression change.

“Aaah, we can’t say what happened that year, can we? It’s in your story. We mustn’t spoil your story.”

A moment later I awoke in my bed many thousands of miles away near the Sulu Sea. My wife was next to me; and funnily enough, I was next to her. When I went to my computer room a while later, I found my notebook. And what you have read above is what was written in it.

I really did like Santa Claus; “young man” indeed.

This Christmas Santa Claus article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas website.

Roy is also owner and author of the Xmas Ornament web site.

Relax for the festive season with Roy’s new Christmas story for adults and children.

The magic of Santa is still alive in our home … Santa has done such a great job reinforcing his presence all these years, it’s no wonder.

I know this will most likely be one of the last years, if not the last year, my younger daughter still believes that Santa is a jolly old fellow with a bushy beard who somehow gets his big ol’ self down the chimney each year without fail. And flying reindeer? Oh man … my heart aches thinking this tradition will be short-lived in our home, although the spirit of Santa will continue to fill the stockings and leave special presents for as long as I’m around.

When my children were little, I actually had reservations about starting the Santa fantasy … wondering if “lying” to my babies, who I swore I would always be honest with, would come back to haunt me. Somehow, this isn’t the same as outright lying. It’s creating holiday magic and reveling in the joy that fantasy brings to children. Santa is hope and love, Santa is joy and Santa is a big part of what makes Christmas special.

On the page of my Christmas site “Is Santa Real?”, the author explains that Santa is, in fact, very real and encouraging our children to love and look forward to Santa’s yearly visit is perfectly OK because what we are actually teaching them is the art of giving and that acts of kindness, good will and compassion are valuable characteristics to uphold and honor throughout their lives.

Parents will eventually have to come clean and acknowledge that there really isn’t a big ol’ jolly guy scraping himself raw by dragging presents in a sack down chimneys every year. When the time comes, try to remember what Santa Claus represents and let your child know that his spirit will continue every Christmas, no matter how old they become.

Allow kids the innocence of believing in Santa for as long as they will. And while they still believe, make Santa as magical and outrageously fantastical as you can. After all, the spirit of Santa is what parenting is all about.

Is Santa Real?

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com - http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

When I started writing this column in Fall of 1998, the idea of doing all your holiday shopping online rated quite daring and trendy.

Fast-forward to today and online shopping represents a very sizeable share of all retail commerce.

In fact, just like the “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving gets many retail stores “into the black” financially, they’ve coined a name for one of the biggest shopping days online: “Black Monday!”

Black Monday or “Cyber Monday” refers to the Monday after Thanksgiving when everyone goes back to work and does all their shopping online (presumably on their break — yeah right!)

Either they couldn’t find what they wanted in a brick-and- mortar store over the weekend or, like me, couldn’t stand the thought of standing in line for hours, so they shop online.

Since their workplace often carries the fastest Internet connection, many people find playing “Cyber Santa” at work too tempting to resist.

Despite a “sluggish economy,” this past Black Monday should turn out to be the biggest on record, though the actual results may not get tallied for weeks.

However, if you plan to play “Cyber Santa” this year by making holiday purchases online, the following tips should help the little online elves make all your dreams come true.

** Don’t Procrastinate **

Don’t wait until the last minute to place your orders online. Internet companies function just like mail-order companies.

Human beings process your order, pull it out of inventory, pack it, and ship it to your address.

If a backup occurs, no amount of e-mailing or phone calls will cause your packages to arrive any faster.

** Delivery Guarantees **

Find out what guarantees (in writing) the company makes regarding delivery.

If they don’t guarantee delivery for 2 weeks and you waited until December 19 to order, it doesn’t take a computer science degree to know your order won’t arrive in time.

** Return Policies **

Along with delivery guarantees, check the return policy. What happens if something goes wrong with the product?

Where and how do you return it?

Also, understand that if you buy something through an auction site like eBay, you run the risk of defective merchandise with no hope for an exchange.

** Brick and Mortar **

Try to deal with companies that offer a “brick and mortar” operation to augment their online presence.

This comes in handy if you received a defective product, or the wrong product, and need a quick fix by visiting the store at the last minute to avoid tears on Christmas morning.

** Disaster Planning **

Ordering early means you can make a quick recovery if something goes wrong by going to the mall and buying something else!

I bought 22 very cool gifts for out of town relatives and business associates yesterday with the click of a mouse!

I plan to do 100% of my shopping online this holiday season and avoid losing my holiday spirit by engaging in urban combat for a parking spot at the mall.

So remember, use common sense, buy from reputable merchants, and let your keyboard help you create a memorable holiday season.

Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and co-author of an amazing program that teaches you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website, affiliate links, or blogs… without spending a dime on advertising! Click Here> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com

Yet, it’s well documented. Santa’s has been doing their “thing”, delighting boys and girls, yes, even adults, for thousand of years. Even before Christ in Scandinavia. There, “Santa’s” forefather was a Viking God named Odin who in winter on his eight footed horse, Sleipnir, rode throughout the world giving out gifts or punishments. In the pagan world; during the same period the Germans looked forward tot he gentle German goddess Hertha coming down with her gifts of good fortune and health.

As Christianity spread, the season brought into being one known as Saint Nicholas, who was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of Bethlehem in the fourth century. . Writings tell of fact that he was very humble (as well as being very shy), and of his love for children, his kindness and the miracles he brought about.

Perhaps the most famous story of all tells how he helped three unfortunate young sisters who all had suitors but had no dowries because their father, a poor nobleman, could not raise the money. Now the bishop Nicholas was a shy man and did not like to give money directly, so he thought of a way to give it anonymously. When the first daughter was ready to marry, the good bishop tossed a bag of gold into the house at night. Later, when the second daughter prepared to marry, she too received a mysterious bag of gold. When the third daughter prepared to marry, the poor nobleman was determined to find out who had been so generous. So he kept watch and saw the bishop drop another bag of gold into the house. It has been said that Saint Nicholas climbed on the roof and dropped the third bag of gold down the chimney where it landed in a stocking hung to dry, giving us a reason to hang up Christmas stockings today. When the father saw what had happened,

Being known for his kindness and generosity, he became the patron saint of judges, murderers, pawnbrokers, thieves, merchants, paupers, scholars, sailors, bakers, travelers, maidens and poor children. He is the national saint of Russia and Greece and there are churches named after him number in the thousands - more than 400 in Great Britain alone.

When the Dutch immigrated to America they took their beloved saint with them.
As the 17th century Dutch New Amsterdam was becoming 18th century English New York; with their arrival, the Dutch Sinterklaas did become forerunner for Santa Claus in the United States. Where he was given helpers; Parents, seized the opportunity to coerce good behavior, played up this helper of Santa’s.

With this kind of history and the “good” credited to this Jolly fat man in the red suit and his helpers each season, certainly one must conclude there is a Santa. Even if is it only in the spirit of Love, good will, peace and cheer we experience each Christmas season.

I have been writing for pleasure off and on at different free sites for several years. It gives me a feeling of self satisfaction when I receive comments from the readers. Especially those that say they were entertained or had learned something new. So, I look forward to hearing from you

I’ve a confession to make. I used to be Santa Claus. Not the real Santa, of course, but one of the Shopping Mall Santas who help out the Big Guy in Red, filling in for him in department stores and malls around the country talking to children and having their pictures taken with them. A great part time job that lasts only one month a year, from the day after Thanksgiving up to Christmas Eve.

How did I get into this gig? By answering a help wanted ad in the local newspaper that said, simply, “Now Hiring Santas. Training Provided.” And a number. I had no idea until that day that temporary employment agencies provided Santas for stores, but as a child I’d sat on the big elf’s lap, told him my holiday desires, and truly believed that he would provide the GI Joe, the Schwinn bicycle, and the Daisy BB gun that I asked for. The chance to learn the secrets of Santa magic, spread delight to children, and get paid at the same time seemed too good to pass up.

Santa School, it turned out, was an all day event, and a serious endeavor. The company showed a video tape of successful Santas talking to kids, showed us all how to put on our costumes, apply a pillow for the proper padding, adjust the wig and beard, and how to add a touch of white make-up to eyebrows and any exposed natural facial hair. And more importantly, we learned the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the Santa trade. Do remind the child to be good, to do well in school, and to smile for the camera, as well as calling the child by name. Don’t promise specific gifts (unless prompted by a nod from the adult accompanying the child), don’t refer to the child’s “parents” or “mom and dad” since many children are in single parent homes, or are raised by other relatives -instead Santa would always refer to “your folks” - and (this is a big one) don’t “Ho Ho Ho.” Loud Ho Ho Ho’s tend to scare some kids, especially the younger ones who are a little apprehensive of Santa to start with. Santa should be jovial and friendly, but not scary, so the Ho Ho Ho’s had to go.

What I received from this experience, in addition to the promised paycheck, was a feeling of having brought joy and wonder into the lives of several small children. Add to that a couple of damp pairs of red Santa pants when youngsters became “overly excited” and had not visited the rest room prior to their Santa visit, and amusement when a few “grown up kids” decided to have their pictures taken with Santa, and the experience was definitely worth doing. The most interesting “person” to sit on Santa’s lap was a young woman’s pet ferret. The ferret was friendly and enjoyed her visit-especially the chance to crawl through Santa’s beard. Her owner said the picture of Santa with Wendy the Ferret in his beard would grace her Christmas cards that year. It was a great, fun experience. So if you like kids, have a large lap, and can find the work, being a Shopping Mall Santa is a part-time job you can’t beat.

Paul Buckley has published a website packed full of fascinating and useful articles, stories and ideas certain to make this you best holiday season yet. Happy Holidays

Christmas is the time of year when we like to spend our time with our children, friends and family. At least, that is how the story goes, and for the most part it is pretty true. We forget last year’s tribulations, the traffic jams and crowded stores. We fill our cars with ever-precious gasoline and our spirits with holiday cheer, and then we head off to the mall. We do a little shopping, trying to avoid the crazies who in increasing frequency are ready to do physical battle over the fad gift of the moment.

We stand in line for what seems like forever, juggling shopping bags and restive children, waiting our chance for a few minute conference with none other than the Big Guy from the North Pole, Santa Claus. There he sits on his gilded throne, amid all the blinking lights and Christmas décor. He is assisted by his helpers, who less often these days are midgets or dwarves, posing as elves. Midgets and dwarves allegedly scare the kiddies. The scene is fully nostalgic, resplendent with your own childhood memories. Your children are so anxious to sit and tell Santa what they want for Christmas, they can barely stand it. And here, amid the fake snow and the holiday festivities, it never occurs to you that Santa Claus may be a pervert.

That’s right. Despite all good intentions, your favorite mall may have mistakenly hired a child molester, whose recent residential address may have been the state penitentiary and not the North Pole. And you think you should be concerned about your child’s fear of midgets and dwarves. The truth is, that very lap where you place your child to declare his holiday wishes may actually belong to a pedophile.

To support this claim, CBS News recently had one of its staff impersonate a convicted felon and child molester. The staff member applied in five Los Angeles malls, under the name of the actual felon. The felon was a man who was registered along with 63,000 sickos on what is commonly known as “Meagan’s List.” He was hardly a well-kept secret. And yet all five shopping malls hired the man to be their Santa Claus. Later, when confronted with the issue, one man claimed to have run a free pre-employment background check that is generally good for nothing. The others mumbled lame excuses that, when translated logically, meant they probably had not run any kind of pre-employment background check.

In other malls throughout the country, those responsible do conduct pre-employment background checks, along with drug testing. The good news is, employers like Santa Plus, of Fallon, Missouri, which screens the 500 Santas it places in 250 malls, in 46 states, do conduct background checks. However, by some accounts, 70 out of every 1000 applicants for the Santa or Santa’s helper jobs have a felony record of some sort. That is approximately seven percent of those screened. They may also be applying to the malls and services that don’t do any background checking. They may be like the staff member of CBS, who, while posing as a child molester, got hired anyway. At five different malls. In the case of CBS, their guy was an imposter, helping to work a feature story. In the other cases, they are the real thing.

I know this is terrible. But if it ended there, we could almost be grateful. . Perhaps the larger question is, who are what are you having over for the holidays? Are you not doing the same thing as the shopping malls when you are thinking of dating someone without first checking him out? I know, your new Mr. Possible seems perfectly lovely on the Internet, and he is charming on the telephone. It is the holiday season. You feel lonely. It would be nice to share the holidays with someone who shows the potential for romance. But a confidence man, a criminal, or a pedophile, has had lots of practice at disarming his pray. Winning you over is what his life is all about. Getting to your wallet; getting to your children. They are good at it.

This is not to suggest you investigate old Uncle Fred, although it’s not always a bad idea. It is to suggest, however, that if you are a single woman, especially a single parent, and you are using the singles and online dating sites, you had best run an online dating background check on your potential paramours. Not only does an online singles background check help protect you from theft of goods, confidence scams, identity theft and your own risk of physical harm, but most importantly, it helps protect your children from the kind of strangers they should never meet.

Remember, Check Him Out Before You Date Him.

Gordon Basichis is the author of the best selling Beautiful Bad Girl, the Vicki Morgan Story, a non-fiction novel that helped define exotic sexuality in the late twentieth century. He is also the author of The Constant Travellers, a sci-fi fantasy Western. The first chapter of Basichis’ new book Spook, a Roman A’Clef detailing Chinese Espionage in the United States, is featured in a forthcoming anthology, Sleeping with Snakes, Notes from the Los Angeles Underbelly.

A professional marketing executive, Basichis is also co-founder of Corra, which as the Corra Group specializes in pre-employment and online dating background checks, as well as corporate research and investigation.

Can you still remember being a kid during Christmas - the most exciting season holiday while waiting for the Christmas day to come? Like every other kid, have a letter well written and mailed to Santa, hoping for even a simple note reply from Santa himself.

I’m pretty sure parents that have added their child’s name to a list of bulk “Santa Letter” mailings are just most of the time unreliable, and every time parents have to make it up for their child by giving lots of excuses why Santa didn’t reply. This is somehow heartbreaking for the child.

To avoid being in that situation, why not write your own personalized Santa letter to your child? With today’s technology in computers and fast internet connection access, and provided that kids nowadays know more things in the internet world than their previous generation, parents could do this by just a few clicks away.

Send a Santa Claus Personalized Letter by email.

Below is a sample letter which I’ve created for you, you are allow to modify in anyway you want:

My Dearest (child’s name/friend),

With Lots Of Love.
Your friend,
Santa Claus

***Change the underlined value in the brackets to fit your own interest.

You can send this letter to your dearest friends too, just replace your child’s name with your friend’s name, and erase the mom and dad’s name details.

For your child to receive an email from Santa Claus is sure to provide a little early-season fun!

Edwin Lim is a freelance copywriter living in Malaysia. You can visit his Website at http://www.webblogerz.com

“When I look down in those trusting eyes,
That look to me, I realize,
There’s love that I can’t hide.
Thank God for kids.

Thank God for kids there’s magic for a while,
A special kind of sunshine in a smile.
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why
The nearest thing to Heaven is a child?”

From a song by the Oakridge Boys

I love Christmas. Besides the family, friends, and food, I have been blessed with a special honour - I get to be Santa.

Hey, I understand that the real Santa is busy at the North Pole, preparing for his yearly “one-night stand.” He physically cannot appear at the pre-Christmas events, so I get to be his look-alike assistant. I get to experience something special and magical in children of all ages.

Here’s the truth folks; I feel as if I am the one receiving the gifts during these interactions.

My friend, Bob, also has this honour. He shared one of his experiences.

Bob was Santa at a large community gathering. Two young boys were next in line to sit on his lap. They were poorly dressed and dirty. These brothers were known as bad kids. Their family was struggling financially. Physical, mental, and verbal abuse were commonplace for these boys. Bob had chatted with these boys in the past. Usually, they seemed fearful, aloof, and distrustful. They rarely looked him in the eyes, and if they did, their eyes were sullen, dull, and gloomy.

But this time, it was different. Together the boys jumped onto Bob’s knees. They gazed deeply into his eyes, as if searching for truth. Their eyes sparkled and danced. They were radiant and bright. Bob described the look as purity, innocence, and trust. The boys gave him warm, genuine hugs. They had huge smiles.

They chatted about Santa things such as elves, reindeer, and Mrs. Claus. With hesitance, Bob asked them what they wanted for Christmas. This job has its limitations. Normally, he could promise that Santa would leave something special for the child. In this case, he didn’t know.

Instead of the usual list of popular toys, they asked for a happy day with their family, without yelling and fighting. They wanted a day with food enough so that no one in the world was hungry.

With tears running down his cheeks, Bob asked, “Will you be my special helpers? This gift is more than I can handle on my own.”

They were eager.

Santa Bob said, ”To have happiness, we must “be” happy. To have joy, we must “be” joyous. To have love, we must “be” love.”

The boys grinned with understanding.

“If we work together to share happiness, joy, and love wherever we go, and with everyone we meet, we can create happy days for ourselves. And if we share these things with others, it will help others be happy too.”

Bob continued, “This job is much bigger than Christmas. It must be every day, year-round. Sometimes others may say bad things or treat you in mean ways. These are tests to see if you can be strong, and continue to be happy, joyful, and loving, everyday. Are you still willing to be my helpers?”

With excitement, they agreed, gave him big hugs, jumped off of his knees, and skipped away, laughing and smiling.

Did it make a positive difference in their lives? We don’t know, but it put a jump in their steps and a sparkle in their eyes that day.

At this time of year, regardless of your beliefs about Christmas, something enchanting occurs in people - the child emerges. Youthful love and innocence are rekindled.

I believe that we are all children. Yes, some have a few more years of experience than others. Some have a few more wounds, scars, and blemishes, but we are all children. I believe that we can choose to let that inner child emerge, and create longer, healthier, more loving, and fun lives.

With that in mind, my challenge for you is to take Santa Bob’s advice every day of the year: “be” happy, “be” joyous, “be” love. We must consciously “be” these things; we cannot “do” them.

• “Be” Happy! Smile often. Laugh often. Play often. Use your body to move in an energetic, lively, youthful fashion.

• “Be” Joyous! Appreciate life. Notice the beauties in each day. Create a list of the people, places, and experiences for which you are grateful. Review this list often and add to it.

• “Be” Love! Be kind, caring, respectful, and affectionate. Hug others genuinely and often. Give love. It is magnified and multiplied the more you give it away.

• As a bonus, have Fun! Life is a wonderful and fun game. Savour every precious moment because in an instant, it will be gone.

Do things get in your way of “being”?

Does the weather, your job, the economy, and the “jerks” on the road or in the shopping mall “P…” you off now and then?

Remember Bob’s words, “These are tests to see if you can be strong, and continue to be happy, joyful, and loving, all of the time.”

Be strong my friends, and keep this spirit alive through this festive season and throughout the coming year. Make it a life-long habit.

And the ending to the song?

“Hmmm, thank God for kids!”

Dan Ohler is Thinkin’ Outside The Barn!

Dan writes and speaks internationally on relationships, happiness, and change. He helps you learn the secrets to create life-long flourishing relationships and abounding success.

For FREE how-you-can-do-it-too articles, visit http://ThinkinOutsideTheBarn.com/

To order your copy of “Thinkin’ Outside The Barn And Steppin’ Into Fresh B.S.” visit http://ThinkinOutsideTheBarn.com/

If you are reading this article I see you no longer believe in Old Christopher Cringle. I realize it is a simple story and you probably need to be better baffled with BS to buy into such a story. But the book did make a lot of sense you have to admit? May I ask why you do not believe in Santa Clause? Do you have something against Red or Rudolph with his nose so bright, what is the real deal here? Do you live in a Blue State and just are seeing too much red these days and are upset?

Why is it you do not believe in this Santa Clause character? Don’t you believe in the book, you can read all about it, it is all there you know, chapter by chapter, page by page? Did your Mom never read you the story when tucking you into bed during a cold December’s night? Do you not believe in Santa Clause because the story is about an invisible guy, who is watching you day and night to make sure if you are good or bad? Why haven’t you developed a personal relationship with Christopher Cringle? Why haven’t you dedicated your life to him and lived an honest life and been good?

We should develop places where people can go to be with Santa Clause. Buildings and set up support structures and Christmas Story Telling and Schools. Maybe we can have these schools on Sunday. Of course we will need some money too. We should ask everyone to pay just a little bit of their earnings, let’s say 10% or so. We already have the books, they myth, the story and we all want to be good little humans right? So why not do it. I cannot believe people do not believe in Santa Clause, it makes no sense, obviously Santa Clause is real, why else would so many people be reading that good book of the fat man in the red suit? Think on what I am saying here.

Lance Winslow

One of the most interesting traditions in some offices is that of Secret Santa. The original idea was to allow gift-giving without causing the giver to go broke; by giving a present to one person, you symbolically give it to everyone that works there. The basic idea is that you pick another employee’s name at random, and then purchase that person a small, inexpensive gift which is then dispersed at or slightly before Christmas. Although it can be fun, there are some guidelines that should be followed.

Try to stick to a small amount; for even close workers, a few pounds is acceptable. The idea is to show that you like and respect the person; a small gift is all that is required to demonstrate this. Anything more expensive is actually almost offensive, as it demonstrates too great an affection.

If possible, try to find a gift that the person can use. If they do a lot of yard work, gloves or a trowel are definitely acceptable. Try to determine what needs they have, and buy the most appropriate gift that you can find that fits within those parameters. As the idea is to buy a small gift, this may not always be possible, but it will definitely be appreciated. It should be noted that food (especially candy) is also acceptable, as are small pieces of jewelry.

A humorous gift is another possibility. If you can be ironic when you choose the gift, so much the better. A classic is buying a teen-age boy a toy car, but there are other options. You can also apply scatological humor; a number of whoopee cushions and noise-makers are bought at this time of year for Secret Santa gifts. Do try to keep it tasteful, however.

Try at all costs to avoid gifts that are rude, intimate, or just tasteless. As the gift will be given in public, gifts that would be better given in private should be avoided. If you feel the gift must be given, then give it in private as a special, personal gift. However, gifts that require intimate knowledge or imply some relationship that doesn’t exist, or are on the limits of taste should definitely be avoided. In essence, the rule that the gift should be acceptable to the person receiving the gift should definitely be followed.

It should be noted that these are just guidelines; there are some times when they won’t apply. For example, between really good friends, the price spent on the gift may be increased. However, the guidelines should be followed in general, so as not to cause bad feelings; the idea is to have fun, not hurt people. Secret Santa can be a fun tradition, especially among those who are clever and are willing to give what is needed. And it definitely one that builds morale!

Martin Lucchi is a Web Developer for Eclipse Leisure, a British company that organizes hen weekends, stag nights, Corporate Events and corporate Christmas parties for the UK and Europe.

Poor old Santa Claus. Sometimes he gets a bad rap. People say he doesn’t represent Christmas well. People say he doesn’t set a good example for Christians celebrating December 25. And people say—gasp!—that he doesn’t even exist. Plus, there are some folks out there who are trying to confuse just who Santa is. Is he really Saint Nicolas? Or is he some imposter, some big elf from the North Pole who wants to take credit for everything that Saint Nick has done and stands for.

Scary stuff, right? Well, if you are getting too upset by these anti-Santa ideas, perhaps you should stop reading this article now. It only gets worse the deeper you get into these anti-Santa theories.

Are you still with us? Good, because to preserve our image of Santa Claus—our jolly old man—we need to know why people are out to get him. Then, and only then, can we stop them from trashing the good name of the man in the red suit.

First off, these anti-Santa folks admit that Santa has some really great qualities. He’s always cheerful and happy. He always has fun games and gifts to give, and he is always generous (unless you were naughty, of course). But here is where these anti-Santa people stop with the compliments. You see, they say that Santa, with all his goodness, is only for children and not for grownups.

Worse yet, they say that Santa is only around these days to make money for giant Eastern shopping syndicates. He’s only here to make other people a buck. All that stuff about Santa giving gifts, and spreading good cheer, is all made up, they say. The real purpose of the man with the white beard and the red cap is to get us to consume, to spend money, to give gifts just like Santa does.

This is horrible anti-Santa stuff, right? Well, believe it or not, it gets worse. These anti-Santa folks go on to say that Santa can’t be believed because he flies around the globe in a sleigh. Obviously, the anti-Santa folks have no faith in Rudolph. And speaking of faith, the anti-Santa folks also say that Santa takes away from the real purpose of Christmas, which is to celebrate Baby Jesus.

You see, these anti-Santa folks say the real Saint Nicolas is better than Santa. He was an actual person, they say, who believed and practiced goodwill to all men, women, and children. He was kind and generous, and was a devout believer in Baby Jesus. And Santa isn’t real, they say?

Had enough? Me too. Here’s how you can know that these anti-Santa folks are way off base. What these anti-Santa folks don’t understand is, Santa and Saint Nick are one and the same. So you can’t say that Saint Nick is better than Santa, or that Santa is copying Saint Nick’s style. Saint Nick is Santa! Together, as one, they represent all that is good about Christmas, and all that we should practice every day, not just December 25.

So, please, anti-Santa bashers, please leave the big man alone. He’s never done anything but bring holiday cheer, love for humankind, and tons of fun.

You can find more of these informative articles on Santa Claus and order letters from santa, at http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/ .

The idea to send out letters from Santa was launched out of our very own hometown, called - appropriately - Santa Claus, Indiana! This small, cozy hamlet was awarded its very special name on Christmas Eve of 1852.

Since we knew that our little town had more than its share of Christmas bliss, we felt it was high time to spread some of that good feeling around. And so, letters from Santa was born. We’ve been touching hearts all around the world for many years, and we look forward to many more. Order your letter from santa today, at http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/ .

Kids love Santa. Christmas time without Santa for a child is like milk without chocolate chip cookies. There is no question that Saint Nick is a magical person and a big part of the Christmas season for little children. But the day is going to come when your kid is going to grow up and the question about Santa being real or not is going to come up, hopefully anyway. But if it doesn’t, when do you tell your child that there is no Santa Claus? The debates on how to handle this will go on until the end of time. We’re not going to try to give a definitive answer but hopefully guide you in the right direction based on the progress your child makes in adapting to life itself.

There is no question that when a child is young there should be no discussion of the subject if the child is perfectly happy and thrilled with Santa being a part of Christmas. There will be some parents who feel that a child needs to be told right away that Santa isn’t real. Obviously, this article isn’t addressing them. It’s the parents who aren’t sure what to do; these are the ones we need to address. For them, let your child be a child until you start to see that he or she is growing up. Don’t worry, you’ll know.

Some children are very intuitive and will figure out on their own that Santa is not real. They may come right out and say it one year when you’re putting the cookies out on the table the night before. Something like, “Is daddy going to get up in the middle of the night and eat the cookies again?” may come out of your child’s mouth and you’ll know. In that case the problem has taken care of itself. No need to ask your child when he or she figured it out. The point is, the myth has been destroyed and it’s time to move on.

The next easiest case to take care of is if the child approaches you and flat out asks you if Santa Claus is real. This may have been brought up by the child’s friends bringing the subject up and maybe laughing about Santa Claus not being real. If the child asks and appears to be indifferent about the reply, then by all means tell him the truth straight out. If there is a little bit of hesitation, then it’s time for a gentle discussion. Maybe point out that Santa is actually a symbol for generosity and kindness. You can even tell about the real story of the original Santa Claus and how he came to be. This will help to soften the blow.

But what about the child who approaches an age where he or she is growing up and yet seems to still believe that Santa Claus is real? How long do you wait? At what age do you sit down with your child and explain that Santa Claus is not a real person? This is a very delicate area and the situation must be handled gently. The last thing you want to do is traumatize the child. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. If you watch for certain signs you’ll know when to bring up the subject. If you’re unsure, consult with a therapist. Ask him or her what to do. You will probably get a number of good suggestions on how to handle the situation.

There is no right or wrong way to handle this as every child is different. But be at ease about one thing. It is probably very rare that a child becomes permanently traumatized by finding out that there is no real Santa Claus.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Christmas

Are you looking to help your child believe in Santa a little longer? Or are you looking to have some fun and reinforce the Santa idea for your children? Either way, following are ways you can brighten the magic of the Christmas spirit with Santa.

Leading Up to Christmas

Catch a parade. The Christmas season begins in November now. Thanksgiving is squeezed in, but alas, it is preparation time for the big man to visit! If there is a Santa or Christmas parade near you, usually on Thanksgiving weekend, make a point to attend. If it’s in the morning, grab a box of donuts, some coffee, and probably a blanket or two and head to the street. Everybody loves a parade!

Early presents. (This works best if you have a fireplace, but if not, leaving a gift on the table works too.) Wrap a small gift and attach a note. If your child(ren) has been particularly good, reinforce the notion. If not, a note to the effect of, “I’m watching you *insert name here*. I don’t want you on my naughty list this year!” Place the present just inside the flue of the chimney, and with action and noise throughout the day (running always jarred mine out) the gift will drop down. The kids will see it and immediately scamper to the window, looking for the sleigh. The note can help behavior issues too.

Missing cookies. Make a batch of Christmas cookies and leave them out, in a bag or under saran wrap. In the morning, make a point of asking who ate some of your cookies (make sure to remove some the night before). After looking around a minute, discover a note with simply “Thanks, Santa” on it. The same trick can be applied to carrots but with Rudolph or a reindeer name on the note.

Have a personalized letter sent. Make sure to include details like things they want, things they have done or accomplished through the year. When your child receives that letter, their eyes will light up with anticipation. Christmas is just around the corner!

Christmas Eve

Another Letter. Have your child write a letter to Santa. This one doesn’t have to be a list of wants, but more conversational. It makes Santa seem more like a person than a gift service. Ask about Mrs. Claus, how the reindeer are, the elves, etc. When you are doing your duties later, be sure to reply to the letter in disguised handwriting. The letter can be kept and put in scrapbooks or memory albums for reference.

Watch the web. There is a website that tracks Santa and his whereabouts on Christmas Eve. The owners of the site http://www.noradsanta.org/en/default.php use cute recordings to make it look like live broadcasts updating Santa’s location and where he will be stopping next. It urges children in the time zone to go to sleep!

The goodies. Don’t forget to leave some cookies and milk out for Santa. You can also leave a carrot or two for the reindeer. Another treat for the reindeer is to put out reindeer food (birdseed). Make sure to put it out early enough so that the birds eat it before morning! If not, go and move it around so it looks like reindeer munched around it in the night. Sprinkle some glitter and call it magic dust - this wows the kids every time!

Christmas Day

Footprints. If you are a neat freak, this may not be the best plan. Footprints can be left in several ways, depending on where you live. If you have snow, track in wet and slightly muddy prints near the tree and/or fireplace. I have actually put boots on my hands, went into the yard to get them dirty, and carried them in on my hands to place around the tree. I have also known people to put footprints tracking up the wall! If you are feeling really brave and there is snow on the roof, go up there and create some tracks!

Create a signature for Santa and keep it the same every year. Use the same wrapping paper from Santa or have him sign each present he leaves with an “S.” Create your own unique trademark and use it annually.

Jingle Bells. This can work anytime of the year too. Leave a jingle bell out and prominently display it. The next morning, leave a note from Santa saying something like, “Thanks for watching my bell. See you next year.” Or “I dropped this while I was checking my list! See you in a few months!”

The biggest help to having your children believe is if you also believe. Embrace the magic of the season and your children will, too. Children will follow in your footsteps and believe in Santa and his magic.

Copyright © Jared Felt. Jared is the developer/co-founder of the popular LettersBySanta.com offering personalized letters from Santa and SantasSleighPhone.com offering phone call updates of Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve. Make this Christmas magical by sending a personalized letter from Santa — visit LettersBySanta.com http://www.lettersbysanta.com and SantasSleighPhone.com http://www.santassleighphone.com

Santa Claus is one old dude. We all know that. Just look at how white his beard and hair are, right? But did you know that the legend of Santa Claus, and St. Nick, go back nearly to the time of Christ, nearly 2,000 years ago? No? Well then, sit back, pour yourself a hot chocolate, grab yourself a plate of cookies, and get ready for the story of Santa Claus.

It is said that around the year 280 A.D., there was a man born by the name of Nicolas. He was born in the Near East in a town called Patara. To find it today, look on a map or a globe for the country of Turkey, near Greece. It was there that the man who would become Santa Claus was born.

Nicolas had a big heart, so big that he became a monk and devoted himself to his god and his religion. But Nicolas also was a big fan of his family and his neighbors, and he also devoted himself to them. Word spread in his homeland and far and wide about how kind and generous Nicolas was. Nicolas was born into wealth, and stories soon spread about how Nicolas gave away all of his family’s money to the poor, the sick, and anyone else he came across who needed it.

He became so famous that Nicolas was known as the protector of all children (and sailors too). Once, he even saved three young girls, sisters, from being sold into slavery by their father. Their father, you see, needed money, and was going to make a fortune by selling his daughters. Instead, Nicolas came to their rescue by offering the father money for the girls, and then setting them free.

No wonder that Nicolas became Saint Nicolas after his death. For hundreds of years, Europeans celebrated him on the date of his death, December 6. Some even say that Saint Nick was the most popular saint in all of Europe during the end of the Middle Ages. December 6 was always considered a lucky day for this very same reason.

How did Saint Nick go from being the protector of children to Jolly Old Saint Nick, the guy we know as Santa Claus, who not only protects children, but brings them great gifts too? Well, that’s one heck of a long story, and it involves a manger, and baby Jesus. We probably all already know that story by heart.

But what you may not know is that the end of December was already a big deal in Europe before Christmas was started. It was during this time of year that many Europeans celebrated that winter was almost over. They would have great feasts, celebrated the harvest of their wine and their beer, and the coming of spring and the sun. So then it made perfect sense that when people also started celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus, that the two traditions would meld.

The notion of feasting and celebrating a holiday of lights, the happiness and giving of Saint Nick, and the hope and love brought by Baby Jesus, all of it merged to form the perfect holiday: Christmas. And who makes sure that it happens every year? None other than Santa Claus.

Randy Stocklin is the co-founder of the popular website http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com, which offers personalized letters from Santa Claus.

You think Santa Claus and decorated trees when you think Christmas, right? The Jolly One probably comes first as the number one symbol of the holiday, but there’s no mistaking that Christmas trees are nearly just as important when it comes to celebrating the holiday right.

Santa Claus and Christmas trees are so intertwined, so connected, in how we celebrate, it makes one think that Santa maybe even invented the Christmas tree. After all, it’s Santa who places everyone’s presents underneath the tree. Maybe back in the old days, before trees, he used to place presents under children’s beds and in the bathtub. And maybe eventually he got tired of it, and instead invented Christmas trees as a convenient and fun place for him to leave presents. Makes sense, right?

Maybe, but Santa had little to do with the real reason that Christmas trees came about. Sorry to disappoint you folks, but it was actually German Christians who started the Christmas tree celebration, way back in the 1500s. And as for decorating these trees, the story goes that one of the top Christians of them all, Martin Luther, started decorating his family’s tree in the 1500s with lit candles. He got the idea one night walking home under the stars.

Then the idea really caught on in the mid-1800s, when the Queen of England and her children started decorating a tree for Christmas. Sketches of the royal family with their decorations got put in all the major newspapers, and soon every good Englishman was starting a new family tradition: decorating their house and home with colorful decorations and freshly smelling, beautifully green evergreen trees.

In America, however, we were a little bit slow, not just with decorating Christmas trees but with celebrating Santa Claus and anything else ‘extra’ in their Christmas festivities. That’s because up until the very end of the 1800s, Americans saw Christmas as a very religious holiday. There was no room for chubby men in red suits, or bright decorations and candles, and even a Christmas tree. All Americans did back then was go to church service. Period.

But then the Queen of England enjoyed her Christmas tree. And many immigrants to the United States, especially the German ones, celebrated December 25 with trees, lights, and holiday cheer. Eventually, the fun caught on. In true American fashion, though, Americans not only took on the tradition of Christmas trees and decorations, they improved on it. Every thing had to be bigger, better, and more festive!

For example, at the turn of the 20th century, Europeans tended to like their trees manageable, at only about the height of your typical sixth grader. But when Americans started catching on to the tree tradition, they decided they liked their trees big, so big that they touched the ceiling of their homes.

Then Americans took it one step further with the invention of electricity in homes. Trees were braided with strings of multicolored lights. Homes were covered with decorations of every color, blinking lights, and Santa Claus statues with his sleigh of reindeer. Even towns and cities started setting up Santa Claus displays around Town Hall, as well as Christmas trees that reached to the sky.

Randy Stocklin is the co-founder of the popular website http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com, which offers personalized letters from Santa Claus.

Christmas was a magical time for us as children, with the thoughts of Santa Claus coming to visit on every special Christmas Eve night. Thinking back, I remember waiting to visit Santa in the line up with all the other children.

We eagerly waited for our chance to sit with Santa, to give him our list for Christmas and to express how we were all good boys and girls that year. I remember visiting with Santa a number of times as a child but nothing was more memorable as one 37 years ago. At the time I was 7 years old and my sister was 5. It was a special year with my Mom, Dad, Grandfather (Papa) and Grandmother (Nana).

We all helped to get that special Christmas tree, hang the lights and decorations just right, while listening and singing to Christmas carols. Christmas eve night was now here and my excitement was topped by the hope that Santa would remember everything I had on my list.

That night, papa and nana came over to babysit us as our parents attended a Christmas party in town. It was getting dark and the Christmas lights were glistening around the house with the wonderful sounds of Christmas carols everywhere. As my sister and I got into our pajamas, papa waited to tell us some special stories of Christmas before our bedtime. My papa was always a very good storyteller, but there was one particular story that really stood out. He explained that Santa Claus had a very busy night on Christmas eve, and on his journey, if he stopped by, it was important that he have some milk and cookies so that he could continue on. After the story, my sister and I, scrambled to the kitchen, climbed up onto the counter to get a dish and a glass. My sister filled the dish with special shortbread and chocolate cookies while I filled up the glass with milk. Papa told us exactly where to place these special items so Santa would see them in plain view. We wanted to make everything just right for Santa! Nana and papa tucked us into bed, wished us a good nights sleep with special dreams of Santa’s surprises for us in the morning.

Early the next morning, Christmas Day, before any stir of activity in the house, my sister and I jumped out of bed and immediately ran towards the kitchen. I noticed the empty plate on the counter along with a half finished glass of milk. All the cookies where gone (my sister had left about 5) except for some crumbs that were left on the plate. Next to the plate was a sheet of paper with a picture at the top, of a man with a long white beard. I hopped onto a chair next to the counter and could plainly see the handwriting that said ‘From Santa’. Being so young, we had trouble reading the letter in its entirety so we jumped off the counter and went to our parent’s room to show the fabulous find from Santa. We made sure that our mom and dad were awake fairly quickly by jumping on their bed because we really wanted to know what Santa said to us. “Wake up! Wake up! A letter from Santa! Can you read this to us Mom?” I passed over the letter. Although my mom was not quite awake, she turned on the light and said “let’s see what we have here.” Mom started to read the letter out loud. “From Santa, Thank you for the milk and cookies. The journey from the North Pole is a long one, and although it’s late, I still have many more stops before I go back home. The cookies were yummy, and the milk was refreshing. Your snack will help me finish my long but exciting job tonight. I have left a special present for each of you for being such a good boy and girl this year.” Our eyes glistened with each word read by our mom hearing that Santa had really been here!

Now, 37 years later, I don’t remember all the gifts at Christmas time and but I do have a special memory of a letter from Santa!

About The Author
Brad Jacobsen enjoys spending time with family and friends at Christmas time and runs a web site that allows Santa to send letters to all boys and girls. You can go to santa-letter.1-800products.com/.