Mom, is Santa Claus real?

I have been waiting for you to ask me this question.

This is a question lots of parents have a hard time knowing best how to answer, because Christmas is such a special and magical time of year.

And I want you to believe in magic. Forever.

So…

Is Santa Claus real?

To answer that question I need to tell you a story first.

Almost two thousand years ago, a kind and generous bishop named Saint Nicholas (who lived in what is now Turkey) devoted his life to helping the poor and the sick, and in particular, children. And he would secretly give gifts to people in need.

Even though he didn’t let anyone know he was responsible for these gifts, eventually someone figured out he was the person giving them.

And after that, whenever people received an anonymous gift, people said it must have come from Saint Nicholas.

When Saint Nicholas died, people continued the tradition of secretly giving their children presents one night each year, because this spirit of giving gave hope to everyone, especially people who had many reasons to feel hopeless.

Saint Nicholas helped people believe in miracles!

Hundreds and hundreds of years would pass, and the story and legend of Saint Nicholas would spread to countries all over the world.

In the Netherlands his name was Sint Nikolass. That named eventually changed to Sinter Klaas.

And when the story of Sinter Klaas made it to America, his name eventually became Santa Claus.

He brought joy to people who otherwise may not have experienced joy. He was an example of real life love and kindness. He was an example of the true meaning of generosity and kindness.

And he helped teach people how it feels even better to give gifts to people than it does to receive them.

And now Santa Claus lives on in each one of us.

Now you are a big part of the magic, too. Because now you are someone else’s Santa Claus!

Just like Saint Nicholas was, we are all responsible for spreading hope and generosity and love.

And now this time of year has become even more magical for you.

Because you are now in on the secret, too.

And now you can be a part of making other people as happy and as you are when you wake up on Christmas morning.

So is Santa Claus real?

My answer to your question is yes.

He was a real person thousands of years ago, and today he lives on in all of us.

Now let’s think about who could use some magic this Christmas!

Because we are all Santa Claus, and it’s our job to help spread kindness and generosity to them.

And now that you are in on the secret,  you will see that the true magic of Christmas isn’t in what you have waiting for you under the tree, but in what you leave waiting for other people.

(But don’t let anyone else in on the secret. You don’t get to do that until you are a mom or a dad 😉 )