Christmas 2016
My dearest
children,
Joy and Peace
to you on the Feast of the Incarnation! It is a Wonder that, in a world of
glitz and gadgets, a lone candle burning bright can still draw our gaze, and
the mystery of the Babe in the Manger can still make the most restless heart
skip a beat. Such is the power of Our Lord, which exceeds even St. Nick’s.
And what Child
is this, whose curiosity about All Things Christmas has yielded not one, not
two, but four Questions this year—and
two of which I’ve never answered before for your family! Lovely Miss Lily, you
have at last arrived at the age at which the Magic of the Season bubbles over
and colors everything it touches a bright red and deep green. I shall do my
best to answer, and may Santa find no fault in my explanations.
You only actually
wrote down two of your questions, and the first is the hardest: Does Rudolph really guide Santa’s sled?
Your Dad believed so when he was young and was almost ready to come to blows
over this question, so I do not take it lightly! But you should know that parts
of this Tale are debated even here at the North Pole!
The short
answer is No: the young buck called Rudolf (technically a bull, not a buck) lived many years ago, but has long since died and
gone back to grass. He would be an Old Deer, indeed, were he still pulling the
sleigh today! Others have since taken his place, as they have for Dasher,
Dancer, Prancer, et al—but all of this,
of course, is lost to your world in the Timelessness of Christmas!
Was there ever
a Rudolf? Certainly!—and all elves agree that one dismal, damp, and gray
Christmas Eve long ago, when visibility was almost zero and navigation nearly
impossible, this particular reindeer manifested a peculiar light from his
snout, which pierced the gloom so that the other Reindeer and the Man in Red could
find their way. Being quite young and not full-grown, he was not among the
Eight planned to pull that night, but was added at the front by our
harness-maker, Theodore Doubletree, who had his work cut out for him making a
collar and harness on short notice. (Hence the shorter spelling of Rudolf, with
an F instead of a PH—no one had ever written the name until old Tuggs hurriedly
stamped it in leather!)
But according
to Rangifer Deervermer, Santa’s original herdmaster, he was not an outcast as the
Song and Film suggest. He was indeed the most playful of reindeer—strangely
fond of games, in fact—and as a young deer would chase and kick a red ball all
around the yard and encourage the other reindeer calves to do the same! And he
was always drawn to light—Christmas lights, lanterns, candle-light, fire—you
name it, he was there at a run. So it made sense that, when this sort of Miracle
was needed, Rudolf would be the one to deliver!
This story
might raise a final question: was he born with a glowing red nose? This, my
dear children, I cannot answer precisely. Some say his nose always glowed—they
swear to have seen it!—while others claim it was the work of the Miracle Corps
on that particular Christmas. Old Jiffy (Rangifer, that is) won’t say, and
neither will Buoyancy Castor, whose incantations are responsible for getting
our reindeer off the ground. Both wisely say that there is no explaining Miracles,
or they wouldn’t be Miracles!—and both hint that if a glowing nose is needed,
whether to help Kris Kringle see or to help a child believe—it will be
provided. So if you see a red glow in the sky some Christmas Eve, it may well
be your very own Rudolf, come to visit!
Onward, then!
Your second question, Miss Lillian, was, Does
Santa have a telephone? In a word, no—at least, not one he regularly uses
or that children like yourself may call. However, there are many phone lines
(like the one you’ve no doubt heard about on your Father’s radio) by which we
elves and Father Christmas gather information about the wants and needs of
children like Yourself—so phone calls to our many “Santas” in your world
certainly help the real Gift-Bringer know what to bring!
Your final two
questions, Little One, were spoken, not written—and have been answered by me in
past letters. You asked how Santa gets into people’s houses, and how we know
what your Questions are. I will give you the quick answers, and leave the
longer explanations for Master Brendan to look up in past letters. St. Nicholas
goes where he wills, in whatever form is required: a tall and saintly bishop, a
plump and fur-clad toymaker, a wisp of Christmas Spirit swirling on a winter
breeze. Doors and locks are no obstacle for him—a chimney, a vent, or even a
keyhole is as good as a doorway if he wishes to enter! And Santa has an entire
Corps of elfin Watchers, whose sole job is to keep an eye on children and
families and track their behavior, questions, and needs. They never miss a
trick, those Watchers, so always be on your Best Behavior!
And you have!
Once again, the entire Thorp Gang has been nothing short of a Joy and Pleasure
to behold this year—oh, each of you have had your Moments when the sweetness of
Life seems sour and you spit it back at each other or your Parents. But you are
only Human, after all, and even we Elves bicker at times! Master B, it is as
your Father says: the University in Bismarck is magnifying the best in you, and
diminishing the worst. Let Monsignor and Company continue their work! Master
Gabriel, know that Fr. Lamplighter and all the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual
Winter are praying for your vocation, whether priest or husband—and asked me
remind you that God wills only the Good for you. (Remember that, when young
Master Trevor passes you in height!) Miss Emma and Master T: do continue to
make Music and raise a Joyful Noise unto the Lord—I have no doubt He loves it,
as do we Elves, when we tune in!—and continue to spread joy and laughter
wherever you go. Both are in short supply in this tilted World!
Finally, Miss
Lillian: thank you, Dear One, for sharing your tremendous Christmas Spirit with
those around you—both as a five-year-old Lover of Santa and Presents and as the
Virgin Mary in your Christmas Play the other night. Always remember that even
St. Nicholas kneels before the Babe in the Manger—this Great Day marks the
birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and no gift is greater than He!
Merry
Christmas, my friends, and a very Happy New Year!
Yours Still and
Always,
Quill
