While people carry on religious and political hatreds of various kinds, the recent flurry of activity concerning these should remind us that even though there are Halloween with the Great Pumpkin and Thanksgiving with turkey looming ahead, it is never too early for Santa Claus.

Two of the most endearing qualities of a child are trust and imagination. They will believe in magic, they thrill to stories of fairies and enchanted lands. Christmas, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, stories of birds and animals, enchanted islands and forests; these are the domain of childhood.

We don’t forsake these things in adulthood. We continue to want our Merlins, Camelots, and enchanted glades. As parents, we enjoy making things like Santa and his elves and reindeer real to our children. All too quickly, we grow up and learn of the fantasies of childhood but the intent of parents in wanting their children exposed to the myths is the innocence of goodness.

Santa is the ultimate angel to a child. There isn’t the slightest trace of evil connected to Santa; he could never do anything wrong or anything to hurt a child. Santa believes in children, in the innocence of childhood. Our desire, as adults, to believe in angels follows the same pattern. We grow up and have to leave the myth of Santa, but we desperately want to continue to hold on to what he represents. The emphasis of Santa relating to children is the basis of his enduring popularity. He personifies the love of children and the best of childhood as no other figure, historical or mythological.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Who will forget these words to a little girl written by Francis Church for the New York Sun in 1897? His concluding words to little Virginia:

Alas! 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 eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished...The most real things in the world are those that neither children or men can see .Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. 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.

The Christmas season with the distinctive music and decorations, the buying of gifts, the celebration of the hope of peace on earth, is something none of us would like to see disappear. Singing Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas celebrate the season. Children write letters to Santa and hang stockings with care and we watch A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34^th Street. We have added The Grinch to the story of Scrooge, there is now a Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy, Rudolph and so many more with all the innocence, charm and fantasy of childhood.

The story of the North Pole, Santa’s home and the workshop of elves, the magic of Santa’s being able to visit every home with a child in a single night, going down chimneys, his Ho, Ho, Ho, children leaving cookies and milk for him and, very important, Santa knows if you have been bad or good, naughty or nice.

Believing in Santa is as natural to a child as faith and prayer. Childhood is of so very short duration, such a short time in which to teach and encourage children in the things that will prepare them for adulthood. The whole concept of Santa is one of the things that will do this. We know that all too soon our children will face the realities of the denouement of Santa. But the lesson of goodness and the memory of the magic and innocence of childhood, like the healing power of a mother’s kiss, should remain.

Of the greatest importance is the fact that Santa loves all children no matter the physical or mental differences, the race, religion or geography. This is what children learn from Santa. The non-Christian world recognizes the jolly old elf, separating him from sectarian religious beliefs. He is welcome in Turkey, China, Cuba, and even Iraq! And unlike the cruel wars fought over religious beliefs, none have ever been fought over Santa Claus.  And none will be unless, as with all wars, “adults” decide to do so.