Of all the things that people think of when they think of Christmas, Santa Claus is probably the first thing that comes to mind. With his jolly and gleeful personality, his red, rosy cheeks, his big belly, and his long, white beard, he is probably the figure that is most associated with Christmas. He and his nine reindeer manage to deliver presents to all the good boys and girls all over the world every year on one single night. To kids, he is a beacon of hope that on Christmas day, they will receive presents and cheer. However, when kids get to be a certain age they stop believing in Santa Claus. They stop believing in the magic that he brings, the magic that exists in all young children who still have the ability to believe in the unknown. At a certain age, they lose faith and begin to grow up. Well, what if I were to say that Santa Claus is actually real? Not in the physical sense that kids believe him to exist in, but in another sense. In other words, Santa Claus exists in the spirit of Christmas, and that's what makes him a reality.
When I was little, I loved believing in Santa. He was a bright beacon of hope that I looked forward to every Christmas. I loved the idea of a big, jolly fat man leaving presents for me as long as I am well behaved and leave him delicious milk and cookies. That's probably because I really enjoy material belongings, but I also loved the magic he brought to Christmas. I loved waking up in the morning, waiting to see what presents had brought me this year. Because of him, I had hope, I was filled with joy, and I enjoyed my time with my family. In other words, Santa was my everything. When I found out that he didn't exist, I was devastated. The magic that Santa had brought flickered momentarily, but it did not vanish. It lived on in the Christmas spirit that I now have whenever Christmas comes to town.
Basically, what I mean by this is that Santa exists in the spirit that everyone utilizes when Christmas comes around the corner. He exists during the dawn of Christmas Day. He exists in the laughter of children when they awaken. He exists in the fond memories created on that day and the days after. He exists, in essence, in the families that celebrate Christmas and embrace the festive holiday spirit. Therefore, Santa Claus is not a myth, he is a reality. He is real, but only in spirit. It is because of this that I still think that Santa exists. In fact, he will continue to exist so long as I continue to believe in the spirit of Christmas.
