When I was a little girl my mom and I would spend Christmas Eve at my Aunt’s house. It was an evening of eating, playing for the kids and drinking for the adults. I have many wonderful memories of these times but there is one that stands out the most. It is the one that made me believe in Santa for years longer than I should have.
We lived across the street from my Aunt and my mom had run home to grab something. When she came back to the house she told my Aunt to get my cousin and I as she had a surprise waiting outside.
My cousin and I ran to the door to find my mom standing there with Santa. Santa even had a present for both of us. My Little Pony dolls. I couldn’t believe that it was Christmas Eve and Santa was delivering us presents. I mean we were still awake after all.
I was convinced he wasn’t real and it must have been an Uncle dressed up as Santa. I said “You are not the real Santa” and Santa told me to pull on his beard to prove he was legit. I pulled on that beard and it didn’t budge. It really was Santa.
It was a quick visit with Santa as he of course had to get going to deliver presents to the rest of the boys and girls. He reminded us to go to bed for our parents as he would be back with the rest of our gifts later that night. Then he hugged us good-bye and left.
Years later a friend at school told me Santa wasn’t real. I argued with her to the point of calling off our friendship. I came home to tell my mom and that is when she decided it was time to have the Santa talk with me.
My heart was broken. Santa wasn’t real. I even argued with my mom. He had to be real. He came to see us that one Christmas Eve a few years ago. This is when my mom told me the real story.
When she went home that night on her way back she saw “Santa” standing on the corner. He was waiting for a friend to come pick him up to go to a party. My mom asked him if he had a moment to spare to come see my cousin and I. The kind stranger agreed to do so. My mom ran back to our house and grabbed the two presents so Santa could give them to us.
The kindness of a stranger and the Christmas spirit made my night that Christmas Eve. To this day I remember how magical and amazing that moment was to my cousin and I. It will always be one of my treasured memories of Christmas as a child. I hope to be able to make special moments like this for my children that they can hold on to even in to their adult years.
What is your favourite Christmas memory?