Is Santa Real?

Dear Addy,

You asked a really good question, “Is Santa Real?”.  I knew that you wanted to know the answer, and I had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no.  We are not Santa.  There is no one, single Santa.

We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree – just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.

This could never make any of us Santa, though.  Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  He lives in our hearts – not at the North Pole.  Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others.  What he does is teach children to believe in something they can’t see or touch.  Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe:  in yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God.   You’ll need to be able to believe in things you can’t measure or hold in your hands.

Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve:  He has help from all of the people whose hearts he has filled with joy.

With full hearts, people like me and Daddy take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.  So no, we are not Santa.  Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness.  We are on his team, and now you are too.

We love you and we always will!

Love - Mom (and Dad)