Shall we cheer ourselves up with funny and sweet Christmas stories?

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

A few years ago dh thought a beard would suit him. Sadly it came in very grey. Well white. He went to the match with his brother and as his team’s colours were red and white he wore his new Santa bobble hat. Football fans being what they are he soon got spotted and a chant in his stand went up of “Father Christmas do not touch me” pointing at him. 🤣🤣
But then on the way out two little boys were staring at him, then waving. They dragged their dad over to talk to Santa. He went from being mortified (in a good way) to being really emotional and bursting with happiness.
Anyone else? We need some happiness.

When I was a child, and we went to another family's house, they pretended that Santa had come to visit, and was giving sleigh rides in the garden; we children were bundled up in our coats, gloves and wellies, and told that we wouldn't actually see the sleigh, but we'd still ride in it.

One at a time, we were blindfolded, and taken round the garden in a sleigh, to the sound of bells. We could feel the presents in the back, give carrots to the reindeer, and talk to Santa. (I learned later that I was actually pushed round in a big wheelbarrow, and that it was a human biting off the carrot I held out, and that someone was pretending to be Santa, using a disguised voice!) I don't think I actually believed it all, but it's a very happy memory.

That’s lovely. Little memories that cost nothing.

My dad's office used to give a Christmas party for children of staff every year; this was late 50s. After we'd played some games and had tea, we'd all go into a big room to wait for Father Christmas to arrive. We had to be very quiet and then we'd hear jingling bells, and in he would come, with his sack of presents. I remember the magical feeling of hearing the bells, and I'm touched that they went to so much trouble for us.

As a toddler, DD2 didn't believe I sleep. She often woke about 9.30pm, ready for cuddles and mischief.
CE was no exception. We were in the midst of setting out presents, DH was assembling the wooden kitchen... And she appeared. And saw Daddy and his screwdrivers. She loved helping Daddy with his screwdrivers (she was about 21 months). So she got stuck in. Half an hour later, eyes were drooping, and asleep on the sofa.

Next morning... She was amazed as her 3yo sister to see all the presents and wooden kitchen. It was like the evening before never happened.

My Grandad used to dress up as Santa each Christmas Eve. We were all plenty old enough to know it was him, but humoured him. It started off simple, he appeared at the door. It got increasingly elaborate over the next few years, culminating in a hand built sleigh in the attic the last Christmas he was with us. My personal favourite was the year he turned the downstairs loo into a grotto So silly but so lovely.