The Christmas Lesson

“Ho-Ho-Ho!” The sound was floating in the air along with the jingle bell tune played by the band. The loud music of the band had attracted people to their balconies or doors on that particular street where we lived. My son and I rushed to our balcony as soon as we heard the music. Our apartment was at the dead end of that lane. We could see to the other end of the lane from our balcony. A group of people entered our lane, along with bright halogen lights, a band consisting of four persons, two drummers, one playing the trumpet and the other playing the saxophone were walking both sides of the open red car, a fat and tall white-bearded Santa Claus was standing on the open car and was waving everyone, offering toffees to all the children from that car. Sometimes he got down and shook hands with the onlookers and children bringing a smile to the grown-ups' faces and a lot of excitement to the children. Some older kids of that street were trying to see the original face of that Santa behind his mask, trying to look from the side. Apart from the driver, a manager was there in the car.

We watched all these from our balcony, “Mama, the procession is coming to our apartment. Santa will give me toffees, shall I go down?” asked my son.

“No, wait. Santa will come to our house,” I replied.

My son looked at my face in surprise.

“Just wait and see,” was my answer.

The car stopped in front of our apartment. The manager jumped out of the car and showed something to the watchman and then the band kept playing a Christmas carol at the gate. We both were watching them from the balcony.

Now Santa and the manager both came in. Our doorbell rang. My overly excited son opened the door and Santa was at the door, he handed over the gift to my son and wished him and me a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The manager and I smiled at each other. I invited them inside. They came to the hall and took a few photos with their camera, we posed and we also captured those moments with our camera lenses. They bid goodbye to us. We closed the door. Flabbergasted by the event my son was looking at the gift parcel from all sides. I asked him to open the parcel. He tore open the parcel and was in cloud nine seeing two story books and a pack of chocolate. He turned the pages merrily.

“How did Santa know this is my favourite cartoon character’’ he asked.

“He knows everything,” I said smilingly.

Then I went about my business, he remained busy with those books.

At the dinner, he asked again, “Santa has written best wishes to Somu on the first page, how did he know my name?” he looked confused.

My partner and I smiled at each other but kept quiet.

The next day with my help came her son Arjun, two years younger than my son. He was holding a storybook with a smiling face.

‘’Show that to aunty,’’ my help instructed.

“Aunty, Santa came and gave me this book and some chocolates.”

“Wow, that’s great!” I acted surprised.

“Arrey, Aunty only bought that, say ‘thank you’ to Aunty,” my help said.

My son came at that time, he said, “I too got a gift from Santa yesterday, the same storybook. Come, I will show you.” They both went inside.

I was unhappy with my help.

“Why did you tell Arjun that I bought that book? I had asked for your address so that Santa can deliver it to your door.”

“Didi, Arjun kept on asking me- There are many other children around here. Why did Santa give a gift only to him? So, I had to tell him.”

“Hmm, ok,” I said.

That day was the week before Christmas I saw a board in front of the office of a local newspaper. It said, "Make this Christmas special, let your gift be delivered to your loved ones by Santa.” Curious I went inside to find out more. The concerned person said that I have to buy a gift for my loved one and at least one more gift for an underprivileged child. So I chose my maid’s son and another one for some unknown child. I bought three sets of gifts. This was a nice way to teach children the joy of sharing and caring about others. This is the spirit of all festivals celebrated. Even though we are not from the Christian faith I never barred my son and myself from being part of all festivities. The more we expose the children to other cultures, rituals and customs, the more will they learn to be empathetic and grow.

After a few days one day, my son asked me, “The message written on the book looks like your handwriting, mama.” Then I had to reveal all the secrets. I told him, if I had gifted the book directly, he might have been happy. But, the happiness and excitement of receiving it from Santa were much more. Also, Arjun and the other child would have felt similar happiness and excitement.

Now my son and Arjun both are young adults. A few years back I met his mother, she reminded me how happy Arjun was to receive that book and read it several times in his childhood.

I’m happy that whenever my son decides to buy a gift for a child, he always thinks of books. The spirit of gifting has remained in him and he tries to share a little of whatever we have with others during the festivals.

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