Countdown to Christmas

Hard to believe but it is less than a week until Christmas 2024. I know we say it every year, but it is true — how can it be Christmas so soon. Wasn’t it yesterday it was Thanksgiving?
The public activities — such as Olde Fashioned Christmas in Mantorville and Christmas in Kasson, West Concord and Hayfield are over. School holiday concerts have been held.
Hopefully everyone has completed their Christmas shopping but realistically that is unlikely.
Still now is a time to turn to the more family-oriented Christmas events, Christmas Eve church services, getting together with friends and relatives for a meal and simply spending time together.
We have run this week’s editorial in year’s past. It is the well-known response to a letter to the editor written almost 130 years ago when an eight-year-old girl asks “Is there a Santa Claus?”
The editor’s answer was “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist.”
The editor tells Virginia that even though one does not see Santa Clause that is no sign that he doesn’t exist. No one can see or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
I don’t think the editorial writer’s response is literally about whether Santa Claus really exists. I think it is more of a feeling of the magic of the season. A feeling that despite everything going on in the world there is still goodness, unselfishness, faith and hope in the world. A feeling that comes from that same childlike faith that makes little children believe in Santa Claus.
We live in challenging times, that is certain. But all times have had their challenges. This is a perfect time to stop and think about those positive things that exist despite the challenges.
 
Merry Christmas to everyone.