I like when fiction blends with reality. Feng often claims that I have a wild imagination and I love to tell stories. These days, I mostly focus on “inspired from true events” stories because life is interesting enough to my adult eyes, but I occasionally have long senseless conversations with Mark.
Did you know that his stuffed rabbit (the very one I nicknamed “civet,” French speakers will get the joke…) was very nice today? Doggy, on the other hand, kept on bugging me while I was working, I report to Mark. So we punish doggy. Rabbit gets to play with cars because he is nice. Meanwhile, outside, there is a plane flying so high it will probably reach the moon. Yes, Mark, you can look out the window, let’s wash your bananas first. What? Oh, these are not bananas, these are your hands? My bad.
I swear the house is drug-free. Thanks for asking, though.
This brings me to the whole Santa thing. I can’t remember really believing in Santa Claus—I was a practical kid, and the entire story sounded fishy from a logistical perspective. But I liked to believe and my parents played the part very well. It made December a fun month and it was comforting to follow the same traditions year after year.
Now, as the designated Westerner in our family, I’m in charge of Christmas. Bit of a tall order if you ask me. Where do I start? How? Oh, the pressure!
When I announced I was going to do the Santa letter with Mark, instead of praising my thoughtful mothering skills, Feng shrugged. “What does he understand about Christmas?”
“We need a letter,” I insisted. “I don’t want to buy presents just because Santa didn’t get the order.”
Feng laughed.
“Look, I have no idea how to explain Christmas,” I added. “And frankly, I don’t think we need to. It just is. It’s cold, there are lights everywhere, and Mark knows who Santa is—what Santa does and how he does it is irrelevant at this stage. If he wants to know, he will ask. Otherwise, he will fill in the blanks by himself. It’s like for his birthday. Does he understand the concept of being born, of a year passing by? I don’t think so. But he really enjoyed being the king for a day.”
The world is a very complex place. Feelings, traditions, rules, social obligations… How many of us know the true meaning of every bank holiday, the origin of every custom? I don’t. I just enjoy the day off and learn more about it if I feel like it. We are not religious but we are celebrating Christmas because most people here do. If we were living elsewhere, I would have no problem celebrating Hanukah, Eid of the Winter Solstice. We are mere humans, we crave rituals, cheer, and bonding events.
Kids learn from us, from their environment. They can be extremely literal but also strangely perceptive. They question small details but accept the big story.
So grabbed my best fountain pen and I wrote a Christmas letter, on behalf of Mark. He added three stickers (because he is three—see, very logical) and traced the outline of his hand onto the paper. Then we folded the letter, put it in the envelope, sealed it and added a stamp.
Because Santa lives close to Canada in the North Pole, thousands of volunteers from the Canada Post Santa Letter-writing Program handle his 1.5 million letters. He has the coolest postal address too:
Santa Claus
North Pole H0H 0H0
Canada
It’s the most lovely Santa’s letter that I’ve ever read.
Take care and have a great Christmas,
Maria
Aw, thank you…!
That is super cute! It’s nice that you have a record of it so he can see it in the future.
I think so too. Although sometime I wonder if he will have… too many records of his childhood? Growing up in the digital era…
Super cool 🙂
Est-ce tu as écris ta lettre aussi?
Too cute for words. Really precious moments and you managed to captured them in these photos so well:) Thanks for sharing, Happy holidays to you and your family!
Thank you, and same to you!
Taking pictures was actually an afterthought that night, I rarely take shots indoors (I don’t want to use the flash and the room was dark) but these ones turned out okay!
I love it!
Est-ce tu as déjà écrit au Père Noël de Postes Canada?
My husband never believed in Santa and I can’t remember if I did. As much as we encourage our kids to use their imagination for playtime, we tell thinks the way they are. To us Santa, the Red Riding Hood, Batman, Spiderman and Superman, are all fantasies. Wild and fun stories. On the other hand, Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection, it’s all true and what we believe in.
That’s very interesting, actually. Mind you, even as an atheist, I can perfectly accept Jesus’ story, at least parts of it (the Virgin birth… not so much). But I don’t think I would tell Mark “look, this is pure fiction”. When the moment comes, I will tell him about religion, explaining that this is what some people believe in. He can believe in whatever he wants.
Have your kids ever challenged your beliefs or asked questions about it?
Uh uh, there’s a problem here… What about the Bill 101?! As Santa lives in Canada, does he speaks both english and french????!
Scandale ! 😀
Je sais, je sais… mais il ne m’a pas payé pour traduire la lettre, alors English only. Non mais!
Very very cute! I love Mark’s letter, I love that he doesn’t want any monsters and the photos of him are so lovely. I hope Santa does bring him lots of surprises and that he has a lovely time! I love your fountain pen – I broke mine a while ago, which was so sad 🙁
I lost my high school fountain pen years ago and I’m still sad about it. I bought this one in China last year, they are very popular over there (and in France). In Canada, I have yet to see anyone using them!
Builing memories that will last in your mind and in your heart forever…..
BTW, beautiful handwriting !
PS: next year, I might write to Santa myself….if you know what I mean 😉
Well, I hope our Canadian Santa will bring you tons of happiness! 😉
He looks happy … pretty soon he’ll be writing his own letters 🙂
I hope so!
That’s so sweet 🙂
I was always confused about Santa when I was growing up. Our Santa came in a helicopter and brought kids to some kids (my school organized it) instead of coming down the chimney. My mom used to tell me Santa gave her my gifts before he left for North Pole. Ahh I appreciate her effort. I’m happy that I have a few years before I try to explain Santa to my son lol.
That’s such a great explanation, I love it! And Santa coming in helicopter? That’s awesome!
A postal code beginning with a “H” is in Québec. So it is highly improbable that an english letter will receive an answer.
Just saying,.
Et merde.
hahaha, are you saying that quebecers have some kind of issue with english ?!?!
No kidding ! xD
PS: I wrote to my contact at the OIQ (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec) and she never replied me back….guess in what language I wrote her ? Fuck this shit.
Well, if you immigrate to Quebec, you’d better watch out with that… it’s a touchy issue over there.
Ah ah elle est parfaite! D’où vient le timbre?
C’était l’un des timbres de Noël de Postes Canada de l’année dernière.
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