The Christmas stories we love to hear and tell

Is there a Santa Claus? In 1897, Virginia O’Hanlon, age eight, wrote the New York Sun, “My little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa said, ‘If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?” The Sun editor replied: “Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see… Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist. How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Nobody sees Santa Claus, but thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

“The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore: “All through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. Mamma and I had just settled down for a long winter’s nap… Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. What to my wondering eyes should appear, but a sleigh and eight reindeer. I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick, for I heard him exclaim: ‘Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!’ Up to the housetop they flew with a sleigh full of toys. Down the chimney St. Nicholas came, a bundle of toys flung on his back. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, filling all the stockings… He turned with a jerk and up the chimney he arose. Then he sprang to his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle. I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight, ‘Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!’”

Birth of Jesus: Luke 2: 1-14. “Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone went to their own city to register. Joseph went from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David, because he belonged to the house and linage of David. He went there with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. While there, the time came for her firstborn son to be born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were shepherds abiding in nearby fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel said: ‘Fear not, I bring you tidings of great joy. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord.’ Suddenly, a heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

Christmas’ greatest gift is salvation: John 3:16.

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