Have you ever truly experienced the magic of the holiday traditions? Have you ever seen the power of holiday beliefs?

My mother told me this story of a person who dressed as Santa Claus every Christmas Eve when she was younger. He was very old-fashioned for the 1960’s, in that he would drive his horse and buggy down the road to ring the bells and announce that Santa was officially on his way. “All to sleep!” he proclaimed. His appearance officially marked the threshold between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was a magical tradition for all, which continued for many years.

One Christmas Eve when my mother was pretending to be asleep, the man appeared in her room and caught her! It was at that moment she realized that he was actually a magical being, Santa’s official Christmas Scout. It was only later that she found out that he spent most of the year making everything ready for Santa’s big night. Every house, road, and the airspace was checked and confirmed. Everyone had to be asleep. What an important job, indeed!

Some of the sources for today’s story: Expanding upon my mother’s childhood recollection

The One Takeaway I hope you get from this story: I hope you create a special magical tradition with your family and community.

Let’s get cracklin’, shall we?

We had stayed up late telling stories

At our cousins’ Christmas Eve

When we heard Santa’s sleigh bells

And determined we must leave.

 

“Well, hello there!” a man called.

“Still out this late?”

He drove a horse and buggy,

And we looked up in wait.

 

“Quick, be home

And turn out your light.

“For Santa will wait ‘til all are sleeping,

All through the night.”

 

“Who was that man?”

I asked as we sped.

“It’s Santa’s scout who makes things ready

For Santa’s arrival upon his sled.”

 

We rushed to our house

And to bed everyone fell,

But I waited and waited…

‘Til at last I heard a single bell.

 

“Is everyone here quite sound asleep?

No? I rather thought not.

“Come, what is the matter,

Why so distraught?”

 

The Christmas Scout knew I hadn’t been sleeping,

And took his place at my side.

“I haven’t been good enough to others this year,

Nor in school, either—I’ve tried.

 

“My grades aren’t the best,

So Santa will leave me nothing but coal.

“But I’m more afraid of not doing better,

And next year I still won’t feel whole.”

 

Santa knows your heart, my child—

And will arrive without delay.

“Now off to bed directly—

For I think I hear Santa’s sleigh.”

 

************

 

On Christmas morning I awoke,

And it was just as the Scout had assured:

With all of the laughter, food, and family

My ache was quickly cured!

 

When all quieted down,

I found a letter carefully tucked up in the tree.

I looked at the envelope,

And to my surprise, it was addressed expressly to me.

 

“Santa believes in you,

Even when you don’t believe in yourself.

“Remember—you are always enough.”

~from Scout, the Elf