Faces of Father Christmas - a Photo Gallery

Come, Father Christmas!

Come, Father Christmas, our hearts and hands have opened

to the spirit of generosity. The bells are ringing!

Come, seek out those who serve each day with humble devotion,

and those innocent little souls who anticipate the birth of love

in your belly laugh, the twinkle in your eyes,

and the hope of your presence in our midst.

They are eager to know that their good deeds are remembered,

that their best efforts matter... however small.

Bless us with a Visit

With milk and cookies, and carrots for the reindeer,

we invite you into our homes and hearts

so that all needs shall be met on the most magical of nights.

For you represent the birth of the one who was born

of a woman and a star,

to bring all souls closer to the presence of the divine.

You are the personification of the divine Giver,

who forgets nobody, but feeds everybody - body and soul.

You heal the souls of the broken hearted

of every land.

Let the Music Bring you Closer

We sing carols to each other

to give one another hope

to spread the good news of your movement up North

and to hold out a hand to our fellow humans on this earthly journey.

In every language we sing with one voice:

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Father Christmas comes for Everyone

Come, Father Christmas

for the parents who work hard to satisfy their children's basic needs.

Come for those who have been forgotten, neglected.

Come for the pets who loyally stand by those who own them.

Come for the snow people, who warm hearts with their merry countenance,

Come for those who live close to the land throughout the year.

Come for the fishermen who trust the water to feed them each day.

Come for the firefighters who work to keep us all in one piece,

and come for the children who are our future.

*Please note that the Father Christmas statues portrayed in this hub "live" at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in Williamsburg, VA.

Family Fun

My family makes the transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas an occasion for a family reunion. My aunt and uncle drive up to my mother's house from Florida and the Saturday after Thanksgiving we spend an afternoon at the Yankee Candle flagship store in Williamsburg, VA. My daughter's presence helps us enter the state of wonder that the magic of Christmas inspires. We walk around the seasonal window displays and enjoy the feel of snow crystals falling on us every 15 minutes. Statues of Father Christmas dressed in outfits with different themes are fun to spot in the small shops and plaza around the central water fountain. The sky inside the building reflects the sky outside.

Father Christmas

Father Christmas. Pere Noel, Santa Claus. He is an ancient jolly man who represents the warmth and generosity of the season. The Spirit of Christmas Present in The Muppet Christmas Carol often reminds me of a younger version of Santa. There have been many legends shared about his nature and purpose. They have survived hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.

What does Santa mean to us today? My daughter usually asks for one gift she really wants and she usually finds that gift from Santa under the Christmas Tree on December 25th. The rest of the time we work to bring the spirit of the season to each other, our neighbors, family friends and people we meet in chance encounters.

The Missus

The Missus of the house up at the North Pole has an important role, too. She could be seen as the Mother Christmas who epitomizes nurturance, support, and abundance. She keeps the home fires burning, cooks, bakes, and most likely manages the household in a myriad other ways while Santa spends hours at his workshop to prepare for December 25th. They work together to inspire us to "pay forward" the kindnesses we have enjoyed throughout the year to share with others. In many parts of the world, the winter months are dark and cold, and that is why Christmas has been scheduled for the darkest times where the light of our love is most needed. This time of year is meant to be encouraging, especially for children. In them, our light and warmth are being stored for expression in the world in the times to come.