Give WHAT on Christmas Day?

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.”

Funny, isn’t it? This is my friend Bernard’s shoutout on Friendster today. Yeah, funny… but, somehow, true. Santa Claus DOES NOT exist.

When we were kids, were “forced” to believe that Santa Claus does exist. That he will come down the chimney to slide down his presents to us. But when we became older, we will realize that all of that stuff is just plain fiction. But still, we do this stereotyping to our kids. And the cycle goes on and on and repeated all over again until God knows when.

But when we ask ourselves: Did Santa really exist? Where did all of this come from? What is the real essence of this Santa person in our lives? Is it still present today?

As research would prove it, this concept of Santa came from the story of Saint Nicholas, a wealthy bishop of Myra, Turkey – dressed with red and white bishop’s robe riding a donkey. He became well-known because of his endless handing over of gifts to children and of him supporting the needy. This is how the concept of Santa came about – from that sleek fashion wear we visualize Santa would wear, to the concept of reindeers and naughty-nice list – Santa became a popular hit from time to time every Christmas.

We consider him as the Father Christmas. And we have made this concept as part of our tradition and our Christianity today. Some countries would call it, Secret Santa, Chris Kindle, or Amigo Secreto – or in our country, we simply call it as exchanging gifts. We do this on or before the Christmas Day, whether it’s at school and our workplace or elsewhere, people are bound to be giving on Christmas Season. People in some cities in the US recently have been receiving $100 bills from wealthy Secret Santas.

Yes, anyone can be a Santa. But it is not necessarily done by giving money or presents to one another. But as the song would sing it: “Give LOVE on Christmas Day” – it’s what really matters most. It does not revolve ONLY around material things and expensive stuffs, but giving your love to every person you meet, it’s a deep feeling anyone would be grateful for. Even the simplest greeting of Merry Christmas! can make someone’s day – it’s the thought that counts right? We tend to make up and be nice on Christmas and it is the most precious thing we could do – to live in the spirit of Santa in our hearts. The Spirit of gift-giving, sharing and forgiveness must rule in our hearts – that is what Christmas is about.

Anyone can be a Santa, even in our own small ways. As what they will always say: “It’s better to give than to receive”. Yes, Christmas is not all about receiving, but giving. To give without expecting something in return; giving as much as we can even an ample of kindness to start things of. Not only on Christmas but the whole year-round, every year. Anyway, we have to be very nice all year, right? Or we’ll surely be on God’s (not Santa’s) naughty list. After all, to give is also to receive – receive something from God, that is. :D