Does anybody believe in Santa Claus anymore?

[yellowperil]

I know I'm starting to have doubts,

[fanaudical]

Of course I do. And sometimes he's me...

[jhynesrockmtn]

Yes. My friend Paul is Santa. A short story from a local publication. By the way, I met him though another friend 8 or so years back. After his physical transformation. He cycles everywhere and looks 20 years younger than he is.




Santa & Mrs. Claus, Paul & Mary Charbonneau

Paul and Mary Charbonneau love Christmas. They don’t just enjoy the holiday, though, they live it, transforming into Santa and Mrs. Claus each season.

Paul started playing Santa more than 45 years ago while still in high school at Rogers. He was the Bon Marché’s official Santa for several seasons. It was a natural inclination, coming from a large family and always being around a lot of children. Christmas was always a magical time for his family.

“I’ve always been a big kid and I look forward to being Santa all year,” says Paul, who, during the rest of the year, works for the city water department. “There’s a real responsibility to it. When I’m dressed as Santa Claus, I’m Santa all the time.”

There was a time, not long ago, when Paul didn’t need any extra padding to play Santa. He weighed close to 400 pounds, had health issues, and needed to replace both of his knees. He’s “skinny” now, and while he says it’s “not very Santa-like,” he stays in shape riding his bike and lifting weights.

​The season always kicks off for Santa and Mrs. Claus the weekend after Thanksgiving with a “Santa Claws” fundraiser benefiting 30 different local nonprofit and animal rescues. It’s a cause close to their hearts, as Mary works closely with the Washington Basset Rescue, and the couple has two of the cute floppy-eared hounds of their own.

Santa and Mrs. Claus make stops around Spokane at charity events and nonprofit events bringing the Christmas spirit to kids of all ages. Often, before Santa arrives, Paul will ask the parents to have their children write Santa a letter. He’ll commit it to memory so that it’s pure magic when Santa knows everything about them, from where they go to school to their pet’s name and of course, what’s on their wish list. For one little girl it was all about a jar of pickles.

“It’s one of those rare situations where kids really just engage, their eyes light up, they start talking and they’re involved in the moment,” Mary says. “It’s a part of childhood that is being lost faster and faster.

“When people are around Santa and Mrs. Claus, they’re in the holiday spirit and having a good time.”

The final stop for Santa and Mrs. Claus each season is Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital where they visit with young patients facing every kind of health crisis you can imagine. Those are times that really tug at their hearts.

“We’ve had children ask for a new kidney or to be put on the transplant list. But often they’re​ not asking for things for themselves,” Mary says. “It makes you realize how blessed you are, when a five or six year old tells Santa that their family is ‘really worried about me,’ and could he please help them to not be so stressed out and be able to get a little more sleep.”

In the true spirit of the season, the Charbonneaus donate any funds they generate to local charities. “It’s really something that we do to serve our community and give back during the holidays,” Mary says. “We really love helping create Christmas memories, and playing Santa and Mrs. Claus really makes our holidays merry and bright.”

“I feel fortunate that I’m in a position to do this,” Paul says. “It’s hard to describe the fun—it really makes you feel great.”

[Zeke]

I believe in ^^^ that Santa.

Otherwise Christmas has become a joke.

[jcommin]

It depends. Some celebrate placing the importance of the religious nature of the holiday. Others, not so much: time to party, gift give, family time - you make your own traditions.

My sons were raised Jewish (I'm not) and when my parents were alive, we celebrated both holidays. After their passing, Christmas was downplayed: no tree and such. We did gift give. We also traveled over the Christmas and if we stayed in, we carried in Chinese or went to a movie.

My sons are married and several years ago, my youngest asked me if I was ok with him putting up a tree. Fine with me, I said. Actually, I sent him glass ornaments my mom used. My oldest has 2 young daughters and they get the concept of gifts but no religious connection. He puts up a tree, but they travel over Christmas.

[yellowperil]

Originally Posted by jcommin

It depends. Some celebrate placing the importance of the religious nature of the holiday. Others, not so much: time to party, gift give, family time - you make your own traditions.

My sons were raised Jewish (I'm not) and when my parents were alive, we celebrated both holidays. After their passing, Christmas was downplayed: no tree and such. We did gift give. We also traveled over the Christmas and if we stayed in, we carried in Chinese or went to a movie.

My sons are married and several years ago, my youngest asked me if I was ok with him putting up a tree. Fine with me, I said. Actually, I sent him glass ornaments my mom used. My oldest has 2 young daughters and they get the concept of gifts but no religious connection. He puts up a tree, but they travel over Christmas.

Well done

[rfuerst911sc]

I believe in the spirit of Santa Claus .

[Por_sha911]

Of course I do. He was a real person that the mythical story was developed from.

https://www.stnicholascenter.org/how-to-celebrate/resources/articles/st-nicholas-and-justice/my-kind-of-santa

That said, IMO if you take "Christ" out of "Christmas", all you have is a "mess".
(yeah the spelling is wrong but sound it out and it comes close)

[masraum]

I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas the other night. It's only 25 mins long, but I'm glad that I watched it. I need to make sure that the grandsons see it. They probably have. Yep, I believe in Christmas and Santa.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by masraum

I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas the other night. It's only 25 mins long, but I'm glad that I watched it. I need to make sure that the grandsons see it. They probably have. Yep, I believe in Christmas and Santa.

+1 Watch it at least once or twice a year

[jamesnmlaw]

Sure, happens every year around this time. Magic.

[LWJ]

I had the Santa talk with my oldest, who is on the autism spectrum years ago. I was absolutely certain they knew my wife and I did the presents. They didn’t. Oops. The kid was 12 or so.

I crafted an explanation about the spirit of Santa is real. Even though the gifts are given by normal people.

It was one of the most beautiful and things Inhavr ever said. I should have recorded my talk for others.

I believe in that Santa.

[Bill Douglas]

Dear Santa. I've been a good boy. In fact I've hardly done anything wrong over the last week.

[Nordwest]

I did, until I became aware that we did not have a chimney.....

[id10t]

All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable."

REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.

"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—"

YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

"So we can believe the big ones?"

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

"They're not the same at all!"

YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

"Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—"

MY POINT EXACTLY.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by jcommin

It depends. Some celebrate placing the importance of the religious nature of the holiday. Others, not so much: time to party, gift give, family time - you make your own traditions.

My sons were raised Jewish (I'm not) and when my parents were alive, we celebrated both holidays. After their passing, Christmas was downplayed: no tree and such. We did gift give. We also traveled over the Christmas and if we stayed in, we carried in Chinese or went to a movie.

My sons are married and several years ago, my youngest asked me if I was ok with him putting up a tree. Fine with me, I said. Actually, I sent him glass ornaments my mom used. My oldest has 2 young daughters and they get the concept of gifts but no religious connection. He puts up a tree, but they travel over Christmas.

I was raised in a mixed household (neither stuck), but it was common to see folks from synagoge at the chinese places on christmas eve and day - it is the only time of year mu shu pork and shrimp kung pow are kosher apparently

[Dixie]

[GH85Carrera]

Walt was a good friend of mine that played Santa at a local mall for many years. He had a high quality suit, and real beard he would let grow out. He had the right twinkle in his eyes, and he loved kids.

At one of our PCA breakfasts, he came dressed in his Santa suit and was on the way to the mall. One of our members had a son that was the perfect age for Santa. It was really cool to see his son's eyes get big as Santa came in, and called him by name, shook his hand and greeted all the adults. The kid was astonished Santa really knew his name and talked to him. It was cool to feel the magic the kid saw.

[RNajarian]

He looks a lot like an Armenian Dentist who drives a ‘75 Targa

[flatbutt]

How else would one explain the giving spirit? I don't mean gifts either As Ian Anderson so eloquently stated "Christmas spirit is not what you drink".