It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
December 4, 2018 9:03am CST
Father Christmas (or 'Santa', if you prefer) has visited the local Garden Centre on Saturday and Sunday and already 114 young hopefuls have told him their dearest wishes and are feeling excited.
I can report that NONE of them seems to be on the 'Naughty List' and, though there have been one or two demands which may be difficult to meet (a unicorn, colour unspecified, though 'rainbow' seemed acceptable; a phone for a four-year old, and a pony for one who confessed that she is allergic to horses), on the whole the nods and winks and promptings from parents indicate that even the most excessive requests may well be satisfied!
"Have you been good and what are you hoping for this Christmas? Here are some of the other questions that Father Christmas often asks:
- "Have you put your tree up yet and, if so, what do you have at the top of it?" (Seems to be a lot of stars this year)
- "What are you going to leave for Father Christmas when he visits on Christmas Eve?" (Mostly a glass of milk and a mince pie or a cookie but occasionally a beer or a sherry or something stronger ... oh, and a carrot for the rainbows!)
- "Are you in a Christmas play this year?" (Usually only those in Reception/Year 1) and what are you going to be or what is your favourite song? (Several shepherds and camels, one angel and one innkeeper, so far. Jingle Bells is probably number one though there are some very strange ones of which I have never heard!)
12 people like this
9 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
4 Dec 18
I had one child last year who came with her grandparents and when I asked her (as you do) whether she'd been good, I got a whole long story from them about how she had eaten all of her mother's chocolates and hit her little sister. This year she came again with her mother (and her little sister) and I was told (by the mother) that she had been "better ... but nobody's perfect"! I felt very sad for that child and wished that I could have said more but I found something from my store which I hoped she would like.
May your angel look down on you and bring you love and fellowship and joy this Christmas.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
4 Dec 18
@owlwings Poor little girl, I hope she can receive something that makes her happy, at least the day of Christmas. I thank you so much for your wishes, I believe in my Guardian Angel, I know he looks down on me all the time. You are doing a great work for the kids, perfect for the Christmas spirit.
3 people like this
@much2say (53905)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Dec 18
We watched "Shark Tank" the other night . . . one guy wanted investors for his Hire a Santa business . . . I immediately thought of a certain Father Christmas we know 
. It's that time of year again 
!
Oh the things you must hear and the responses you must have to think up! What an honor to take on that role and be in the hearts and memories of these kids (and adults!). How do you get that twinkle in your eye ?
. It's that time of year again !
Oh the things you must hear and the responses you must have to think up! What an honor to take on that role and be in the hearts and memories of these kids (and adults!). How do you get that twinkle in your eye ?2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
5 Dec 18
The twinkle comes naturally, I suppose. Either that or I really do become somebody different when I don the red coat and beard. There are "Santa Schools", I understand, and I have seen some quite young people put on the uniform but I do wonder how much they understand that it's not just an act but a vocation. It's mice to earn a little money doing it (especially if you know that it's because it's good for someone's business to hire you) but the real work is nothing to do with attracting customers and everything to do with educating young minds about the real spirit of Christmas, which is all about loving and accepting love, being 'good' because you want to be and the joy of being with your family and friends ... and many other things, of course.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53905)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Dec 18
@owlwings You are such a good Father Christmas. You're right it's not just about a man in a white beard dressed in a red suit playing "the part" . . . a real Santa knows he has a big responsibility in showing the children the true spirit of Christmas. That kind of Santa is truly special - and it takes talent and a lot of heart 
.
.1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
4 Dec 18
I have been good this year, so maybe my wish will be granted too. I wrote him a letter saying I like a rainbow unicorn.
So what role will you be playing in the Christmas play this year?
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
4 Dec 18
I don't do Christmas plays any more. I may be too old (at some 4,000 years and counting). I could have played St. Nicholas, of course, but I'd rather be myself and I'm not mentioned in the traditional Christmas story because I was rather busy as Grandfather Frost at the time.
I have set some of my elves to catch a few rainbow unicorns but so far we have had no luck, even with the ordinary white ones.
2 people like this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
5 Dec 18
@owlwings it is fine. next year maybe there will be a production of rainbow unicorns. I will just be settled with a yellow corn we have a lot.
don't you like to be Grinch this year/?
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
29 Dec 19
I see this was last year Owl. Well I hope your Christmas was Happy and a very Happy Coming New Year to you.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
29 Dec 19
Yes, unfortunately, I had problems this year which meant that I had to decline being Father Christmas. I really missed not doing it! Otherwise, we had a pleasant and fairly quiet Christmas with two family get-togethers and quite a lot of sleeping and TV watching in between!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
5 Dec 18
I love being Father Christmas (or 'Santa', as some prefer to call me). It's really heart-warming but also a huge responsibility. I have to gauge each child's belief in me quickly because some already have some inkling that I am 'just a man dressed up' and others believe in me completely. Some find me highly amusing, some are overawed and a few tinies find me very scary, so I have quite a varied part to play. If I get a 'high five' from a two-year old who began by not wanting to look at me at all, I feel that I have achieved something (I'm not quite sure what, in the larger scheme of things, but still it's an achievement of some sort!).
I do try to prompt those whose minds aren't quite closed to go away with an idea of the spirit of Christmas and what it really means to be 'good' (I sometimes reveal, as if it's a great secret, that Santa doesn't really have a 'naughty list'!)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325299)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Dec 18
@owlwings It is pleasing to hear that you put quite a lot of effort into dealing with each individual child. I can imagine it is not an easy job. You can't promise outlandish gifts to children (or at least I guess you shouldn't) and yet you can't really give an outright 'no' either. A conscientious Santa could easily go home with a bit of a headache I think.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Dec 18
Good evening Santa....Wish I could be your elf there
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Dec 18
@owlwings Thank you, I would love that.
Though I don't want your elf to get sick....Maybe she could go off on a date or a holiday.
I am good with organising queues too
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
8 Dec 18
I had to look up 'Edmund Gwen' and I have to say, to my shame, that I had never heard of him (though 'Kris Kringle' I knew from Tom Lehrer's song). I shall have to watch 'Miracle on 34th Street' this Christmas!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
10 Dec 18
Not expecting anything is really the best way to go but very difficult for most people and almost impossible for a child who has been taught that, if she is 'good' (whatever that means - but usually means 'obedient'), Father Christmas will bring her gifts and if she is not, he won't.
Actually, what Father Christmas (or 'Santa') does, is to look into the child's heart through her eyes to see whether that little seed of love is sprouting (remember the parable of the Sower going forth to sow and the one about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a mustard seed).
The original meaning of the Festival of the Longest Night is, of course, to celebrate the hope for and faith in the rebirth of the Sun, which brings physical life to the world, so it is very fitting to celebrate the birth of Jesus who is the bringer of spiritual life.
I wish you joy!
1 person likes this
@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)
• Bekasi, Indonesia
15 Dec 18
it looks really good, very similar to the original,
I'm quite proud to see a Christmas celebration for those of you who celebrate ...
