Tales from the Grotto: Is Santa Real?

It is sometimes a little awkward when a child says (in effect) "I told you what I wanted last week, have you forgotten who I am already?" "Ho! ho!", I say, "Well, I do have rather a lot of people to see at this time of year and I'm a very old man and get a little forgetful sometimes. Yes, of course, now I remember and don't worry, my Elves have everything written down on a list so that I don't miss you out!"

@owlwings The service is also broadcast on Christmas Day but a recording is not quite the same as a live broadcast.

@owlwings Reassuring them like that is perfect! Up until when does Santa receive requests?

I had a lovely letter from a little girl (about 6, I think) saying that she believed in me, even though some in her class didn't. Of course, I thanked her and told her that she was right. To some, I explain that, of course, Mummy and Daddy and other people give them presents but Father Christmas does too. I think that most kids can understand that.

Absolutely no lies! When I am dressed in my red robe and beard I am, indeed, Father Christmas. Even though I can't always do miracles (such as supply the -so far - five real unicorns I have been asked for), I do manage to explain that a great deal depends on the availability of the commodity and on the 'goodness' (or otherwise) of the recipient. Unicorns are a fairly new one this year (especially real ones) and I suspect that there is an underground movement to encourage young ladies to ask for particularly difficult gifts in order to undermine the veracity of Father Christmas. With regard to unicorns, I tend to explain that they are a VERY endangered species and also remarkably difficult to catch (you have to be female with certain specific virtues and sit quite still in the forest for a LONG time until one comes and lays its head in your lap). I also remind them sternly that a unicorn is MUCH more difficult to look after than a pony! Do they have a field and a suitable stable? (Most have to admit that they don't) And can they supply a constant diet of dew and rainbows?

@owlwings You have a hard task and I can imagine that it's not always easy to find the right answer not to upset the children, but to avoid to tell lies. You are doing a great job.

No, I don't appear at the End of Audley I think that would be a quite exhausting venue. I'm to be found at a certain Garden Centre in a small village just to the north of Cambridge called by the Saxons the Island of the Horn people. I hope that your niece was not too overawed this year. Three year olds can often find seeing the Big Man very daunting when they actually get there!

They can, indeed! Not a lot escapes them, even if they don't say anything about it at the time.

I agree that claiming to be a 'helper' is a good get-out, especially when they have clearly seen several 'Santa's. I have had a number of children, fro example, say, in all sincerity, "I saw you at our school last week, so you already know what I want!" I usually fluff that one by claiming that I see lots of children and my memory isn't too good these days but, don't worry, my elves are very efficient and I'm sure they have everything in hand. Actually, for a child, I think it's almost the same kind of question as "Is Spiderman (or whatever) real?" and many of them know about dressing up and 'becoming' a princess or Spiderman or Wonderwoman or a tiger and don't need detailed and philosophical explanations about the relative 'reality' of Father Christmas. Personally, when I put on the costume and the beard, I really do become a different person and feel privileged (and humbled) to be, for those who need to believe in me, the 'real thing' or (if they are beginning to comprehend the 'adult' view of things), a 'helper'.