It’s a choice between believing in something good, be it a merry elf, an idea, a spirit, or believing that the feeling of excitement that captivated me every Christmas Eve is unfounded.
What you need to know about Santa Claus
The big day is approaching. Here’s what you need to know about Father Christmas and his trip on Christmas Eve.
Christmas is just around the corner, and from my own experience and watching my children grow up, I know that these days are when doubts about Santa Claus abound.
It is an inescapable right of passage of sorts, a crossroads in our journey to adulthood, a place where we decide how the man in the red hat who has been waiting for us all night, waiting for a spark, a sound, the faintest hint of shuffling on the rooftops, fits into our unfolding story.
I hit that crossroads just like everyone else. And I decided to believe. Many years have passed since then, but I still believe this.
There’s no proof that Santa exists, but we still believe
That belief is a choice because I can’t show you any hard evidence to support it. There are no photos of Santa coming out of the fireplace. I have never seen a satellite photo of the North Pole that conclusively shows workshops, elves, and flying reindeer.
It’s a choice between believing in something good, whether it’s a cheerful bearded elf, an idea or a spirit, or believing that the feelings of excitement and anticipation that gripped me every Christmas Eve as a child are unfounded. I think it’s important to respect people’s choices no matter what they choose, and that’s what I did. I believe.
Good things are happening all around us. Christmas is a season of awareness.
In the thicket of our daily lives, it may be harder to see the good this year, perhaps more than in previous years. Cruel acts and loud voices overshadow decency. They distract us from the small but infinitely powerful moments of kindness that arise not from a desire for the spotlight or admiration, but from simple goodwill.
Earlier this month, an elderly woman slipped on ice crossing the road at an intersection in New York City. That’s when I saw a crowd of busy people picking her up and following her to the sidewalk to see if she was okay. In my neighborhood in the Midwest, a man who was hard at work with a lawn worker at the local library was seen being mobbed by masked federal agents. Dozens of people wearing socks and pajamas and holding whistles were also seen rushing out of their homes to protest what they deemed to be inhumane acts.
I’m sure you’ve seen it before. Children reaching out to another child who feels left out. A community that comes together for families in need. Instant delivery of donuts to local fire departments. The door was left open. Someone is in charge of your shift.
Why don’t I believe in Santa Claus?
When we are overwhelmed by the bad elements of the world, we may stop believing in the good. So if someone wants to question the sincerity of my belief in Santa Claus, my point is simple. The person we call Santa, the elf, the spirit, the ideal, mythical being, is pure goodness, based on folklore and lived life. The embodiment of joy wrapped in red.
Why would we choose not to believe that? Why would I even give my knowledge a foothold in the not-so-nice, not-so-magical parts of human existence? Why not stand with someone who embodies the belief that good prevails?
Step outside on Christmas Eve for a moment of introspective peace
I have my own traditions. Late at night on Christmas Eve, after everyone is asleep, I take my dog outside and look at the night sky for a while. I’ll listen. For what? I don’t know exactly. Sleigh bells? Shine of light? Is there a hint of magic in the air?
I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember and I have no plans to stop. I haven’t seen or heard anything yet, but my belief remains the same.
And to my friends, young and old, that’s Santa Claus. Hope. wonder. and the undoubted conviction that goodness abounds.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, from my family to yours.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.
