Do you believe in Santa Claus?

On the night before Christmas, we’ve been told that we will be paid a visit by someone with a long white beard and red robe with white fur trim. This figure carries out a sack filled with gifts that his elves have prepared for a year-long ride on his reindeer. We’ve been told that if we behave for the whole year, he’ll reward us with something from our wishlist.

Santa Claus comes to town at the most beautiful time of the year! Grounded in folklore, he is the festive symbol of the holidays. As Santa secretly gives out gifts on Christmas, he also brings out hopefulness filled with magic he spreads throughout every house in the world. He fulfills enchantment and prosperity among the people, especially those in need.

It’s a vivid memory for every kid to remember their own Santa Claus story. We would see him on our televisions or at the mall beside the grand holiday decorations. Our parents usually tell us that Santa would come all the way from the North Pole with his reindeers and give presents by putting them under our Christmas tree every December. People truly admired Santa for his genuine understanding and compassion. No matter the circumstances, everybody knew Santa Claus for always keeping the spirit of the festive holidays’ magic alive no matter what our ages are.

However, as we grow up, we finally learn that Santa Claus is just someone made up by our parents. Santa is someone who teaches us to be generous to one another, especially at a young age, where we can find joy within giving to others—that has taught us that it doesn’t matter if Santa’s real or not. In these trying times, we can learn one thing from him—we are now grown enough to be Santa by being each other’s symbol of hope and giving.

Christmas isn’t just about Santa nor the decorative trees and wreaths. The words of the holiday grant us the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and be thankful for them. Christmas is the time of regrowing our hope within ourselves and the people around us by giving each other something, whether it’s a physical gift or not; they are what keeps the essence of the holidays alive and going.

That is why this Christmas season, it is paramount that we focus on the things that matter. And as the holiday comes, here are the five things that we could do to embody the spirit of hope and giving and channel the inner Santa inside all of us.

1. Spending Time with Your Loved Ones
   As we grow older and become embroiled in the complexities of life, obligations, trials, and obstacles, we frequently forget the people in our lives with whom we are supposed to appreciate and connect. Sometimes we get so lost in the maze of life that we forget how important it is to maintain those ties to live a healthy life.

   That is why it is so vital to spend time with our loved ones this Christmas. Because through this way, we can let them know and feel that we care about them and that we still love them regardless of what occurs in our own lives.

   Christmas is all about giving. But that does not mean that we are only allowed to give physical gifts to our loved ones. Sometimes, spending time with them and doing things together is enough to show them the meaning of Christmas. Being able to spend time with our loved ones is one of the gifts that sometimes we often take for granted, but this is definitely something that will resonate throughout eternity.

2. Give Physical Gifts

   Gift-giving has always been an important aspect of Christmas customs. It is based on tradition and belief, and it enables us to connect with others through kindness. Given the current state of our society, it is critical that we remember to give them something significant that will revive their hope.

   As previously stated, Christmas is all about giving. As a result, one of the best ways to embrace the spirit of Christmas is to give physical gifts. A present does not have to be sophisticated or expensive; it should originate from the heart and be given to a person with the genuine aim of making them happy.

3. Give Back to the Community

   Santa Claus, a figure who uses the Christmas season to give back to the world, represents hope and compassion, which are ingrained in all of humankind, and by giving back to our community, to the people, especially the less fortunate, we are spreading hope and kindness. Something Santa Claus would be pleased with.

   As we get into the Christmas spirit, we should not forget to give back to our community as well. These past few years have been a difficult time for a lot of us. That is why we need to use this time of the year to try and alleviate the suffering of our community.

4. Be kind to the World

   As we have become entrenched in a system that rewards ruthlessness and considers it as a sign of strength, it is critical that we take a step back this season, analyze ourselves, and remember that being kind and fair does not imply weakness.

   Giving back to our community is not the way to spread goodness this Christmas season. Sometimes, all we have to do is be gentle to the world. Being kind takes a whole lot of strength, especially in a world full of injustices. Kindness will go a long way.

5. Take Care of Ourselves

   Many of us struggle to take care of ourselves in today’s fast-paced culture. We forget that it is an essential aspect of our life, but due to circumstances such as stress, duties, and other factors, we become increasingly disconnected from the concept of self-care.

   The Christmas season helps us to refocus our attention. This is an excellent time to take care of ourselves and reset. We must absorb the Christmas spirit to offer it back to the world, which we cannot accomplish if we are still thinking about the things that stress us out.

   Christmas isn’t just about Santa nor the decorative trees and wreaths. The words of the holiday grant us the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and be thankful for them. Christmas is the time of regrowing our hope within ourselves and the people around us by giving each other something, whether it’s a physical gift or not; they are what keeps the essence of the holidays alive and going.

We may not hear his sleigh bells ringing or the ‘Ho, ho, ho!’ in the distant sky, but Santa would still be the dear reminder of all of us the simple notion of kindness during this very merry season. Nonetheless, if Santa’s out there listening to us and checking if we behaved throughout the whole year, he would want to remind us one thing: the true meaning of Christmas is the everlasting love and hope we give to our friends and family members.

This Christmas, who will you share your sappy sentiments with?