Look, I don’t want to muscle in on this thread, but Jack Frost and The Sandman told me that I really, really have to say something. Apparently the folks over at NORAD are worried about what will happen to their latest request for funds if I don’t make some sort of presents felt ... get it ... presents!
No? Bah!
Anyway, the team hear have been confused over this misconception that your failure to believe in us means that we don’t have to believe in you. I wish it were that simple ... some folk here even think that we should actively not believe in you and are even asking about a referendumdum or whatever it is. I’ve seen the mess you’ve made of yours and want nothing to do with it. We will keep believing in you, no matter what.
And that is the pleasure of magic ... belief is at the heart of it, whether that be the magic of believing or the ability to suspend belief and imagine the magical nature of things. Magic can take many forms and no one size fits all (though Mrs Claus says there is only one size that fits me and keeps waving some celery at me ... the Easter Bunny keeps saying it is a reference to an old BBC sitcom in wartime France and keeps nudging me and winking at me as if we were in a Minty Pylon sketch. What? Oh ... apparently that is meant to be Monty Python. It’s bound to be about sex in some way ... these jokes usually are!)
But belief is not the be all and end all. Fun is an important part of it too and you don’t have to believe in me to have fun.
People say that I am imagined ... a small seed ... created ... cultivated and nurtured ... managed and manipulated from my early days all the way up to right now. That sounds a heck of a lot like growing up to me!
Yes, I will bring gifts. To some it is a gift of a smile, to others it is something more tangible. It is always done with the help and support of others and that will never change.
For those who don’t want me to bring gifts, then fine. I’m sure you will do your own best in your own way, for your own celebrations.
And that is the core of it. Celebrate the way you want and need to celebrate. There are lots of opportunities to do this in so many ways ... the Tooth Fairy promises never to sell your DNA to data mining houses that will give a back door to Governments. Jack Frost will continue to find ways to make science and nature provide pretty patterns, whilst supporting the repeated messages to those on the road that they need to slow down in icy conditions and increase stopping distances. The Easter Bunny was creased over with the idea that Malteasers are her poo ... they grow on trees ... and I’m sure you can guess what is used for fertiliser... yes, reindeer crap!
So there is magic in the imagination of things ... and the greatest gift that any of us over here have given you is the sparks for your own imagination.
It gives drive to inventors, it provokes wonder through actors and authors, it dazzles us on canvas and screen, it amazes us each night we dream.
So, OP, play it whichever way you and your OH see fit, knowing your own children and the life you hope they will lead. I hope I get to play a part and happy to help you on the way, but if not ... I’m sure there will be dreams enough to give you all smiles.
Oh, Jack O’Lantern says he will send a poltergeist though.