One of the central characters in any child’s Christmas celebration is St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. As editor Francis Pharcellus Church of the New York Sun stated in a letter to eight year old Virginia O’Hanlon in 1897, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.”
     Little Virginia was concerned because some of her friends had begun to scoff at the idea of the jolly old elf. He continued by saying “No Santa Claus! 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.” Few of us could argue with Mr. Church.
     St. Nicholas of Myra was most certainly a real person, born in the area of present-day Turkey in approximately 270AD. The stories, traditions, and symbols of this saint are a combination of stories, both written and oral, as well as cultural traditions.
     This book is meant to bring a deeper meaning and understanding of the Christmas season to young and old alike. Questions as to why certain traditions are celebrated are as varied as the families who celebrate them!
     Why not take this little book and read a portion of it a day in the weeks leading up to Christmas?
Children –while we can’t deny them the secular excitement of the holiday – might also come to understand the spiritual anticipation of the feast. In this way, they will have a better understanding of not only the origins of the jolly ol’ elf, but the reasons why we decorate Christmas trees, hang stockings, etc.
     Family traditions are very important, and this book provides an opportunity to share not only beloved family Christmas recipes but cherished memories of Christmases gone by. Merry Christmas to all!