The problem I have with Santa and Christmas lore is that I donât really know what the story is.
Wishlist of presents to Santa. Ok.
Elves in the workshop. Magical and lovely but outdated and slightly implausible, but ok.
Santa delivering with the flying reindeer and sleigh. Again there are serious logistical issues, but ok. Letâs run with it.
But hang on a minute. If the elves are making presents and Santaâs delivering. Why do all these presents round the tree say they come from mummy and daddy, or whoever else (with some of them being given directly, rather than any pretence of Santa being involved)?
Eh? Your santa delivered gifts are noted as coming from the parents? We have a demarcation - santa gets one big gift and fills the stocking, the rest are wrapped from the family.
In fact, it shows how wild my childhood was - All my gifts came from Santa, and I never once asked why my parents didnât get me a gift for Christmas. In my head I rationalised it as âthere must be a cut off where you donât get presents from santa anymore, and then youâre an adultâ.
The main issue is that Santa doesnât have a canon, so you are free to make it up as you go along.
For example; our kids get a gift on Christmas eve to open - it is always brand new christmas jammies to wear to bed that night. This is dropped off by our Elf on the Shelf on the last day.