What Is Your Favourite Holiday Memory?

I think at this time of the year many people start thinking about their favourite holiday memories.  For many of us, those memories are from when we were children.

Mine was the Christmas Eve that Santa came to our house.  Yes, really.  Santa came to my house on Christmas Eve.  I saw him.  Let me explain.

I was about 7 or 8 and sitting on the couch when I heard a noise coming from outside.  (Is this starting to sound familiar?) I scrambled up on the back of the couch and looked out the front window to see what it was, and my mom promptly started telling me to get away from the window.  Did I get away from the window?  Of course not.  What child would move away from the window on Christmas Eve when they heard a noise outside?

Looking outside, I don’t think I was completely sure what I was looking at.  It looked like reindeer.  Not actual reindeer.  It was a station wagon – yes, it was a long time ago – with panels on the sides to look like reindeer pulling a sleigh.  And then I saw him.  It was Santa!  Getting out of his “sleigh”!  And then he started coming up the walk to our house!  Santa was coming to our house!!  On Christmas Eve!  Being the good big sister, I kept it to myself so my brothers – one was probably 3 or 4 and the other would have been just a baby – would be surprised.

He came to our door, and he knew our names!  And he had presents for us!  (Well, of course he did.  He’s Santa!)  I still remember, all these years later, that he brought the book Heidi for me.  I looked at it for a bit and was disappointed.  I didn’t think I would like it.  But I didn’t want to hurt Santa’s feelings, so I didn’t say anything.  (For the record, I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t like it, but later I read it and of course loved it.)

I’m sure he probably didn’t stay long – it was, after all, his busiest night of the year so he must have been on a tight schedule – but it feels like he did.  That night, in that moment, we were who he was there to see and he made me feel like we were the most important kids in the world.

It makes me sad knowing that my brother doesn’t remember.  He was just too young.  It isn’t only my favourite Christmas memory – and still makes me cry remembering it – but is one of my best childhood memories.  I remember it every year at this time and I don’t think I will ever forget it.

Years later my mom told me that it was a fundraiser for our children’s hospital.  She said the hardest part was telling the people organizing it what the presents were without us hearing.  This was before cell phones or computers, so she couldn’t just text or email them, and it was before cordless phones so she couldn’t just go into the other room and close the door. No, my mom had to try to call when we were playing, only able to go as far as that phone cord in the kitchen would take her.

And I’m so glad she did.  That night with Santa was a wonderful gift.  Our parents aren’t perfect – sorry, Mom! – but they do their best with what they have to work with. Some are better prepared, better equipped, or have more resources than others, but they do their best.  And for that I say thank you.

The very happiest of holidays to all of you and the ones you love.  I hope that you have a safe and wonderful holiday season.

What is your favourite holiday memory?