The origins of Santa’s image and person go back to the 4th Century. But as the years passed, Santa Claus has evolved into a large, heavyset person. One of the first artists to define Santa Claus's modern image was Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century who immortalized Santa Claus, dressed in an American Flag. That changed to a wintery red suit, trimmed with white fur and a matching hat. In the Nast drawing, Santa is also in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. This image remained and was reinforced by the poem The Night Before Christmas.
Every year, as winds
become increasingly cold in Indian Summer, and a night-time rain settles in Central
Park, as from a Nor’easter, until almost dawn, it leaves a dense fog. It is out of this fog that we appear, Santa,
that’s me, my wife, Merrie, and our associates, Eve, Holly, Noel, Nicholas. At first, we wander, willy nilly, as we find
our bearings and eventually head unerringly to the headquarters of Santa Inc,
located in the metropolis of New York City.
We
are a figment of imagination, that of thousands, nay millions, of little ones
who think life is filled with joy, the kind experienced from receiving toys and
gifts.
We’ve
been doing this now for more than 100 years.
We haven’t realized we are doing the same thing, over and over, never
aging, never getting any wiser, just coming in, doing Christmas, and leaving
again for another year.
Our
timing for the big one is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the City. I make my first personal appearance of the
year at that parade to the joy and excitement of little ones everywhere.
Santa
Inc is run by Merrie, my capable wife, and a supporting staff. I am the front man; it is my image that children
everywhere expect to see. The rest of
the staff, including Merrie, work with me to maintain that image.
As for me, I am the stereotypical Santa Claus, jolly, rotund, kind, and generous. I have not been assertive in the organization of Santa Inc because Merrie is fully capable of running the show. It isn't that I don't feel I could, I prefer to have someone else do it.
It
has become apparent that there is growing unrest among us. Changes in business operations, mainly
digital technology, have given rise to thoughts of “the real world,” of which
we are not a part. Also, romance is blooming
between two of our staff. I am surprised
the unrest hadn’t started long before now.
I fear that one of us will take precipitous action to cause change.
