We are all Santa

It is that time of the year, when even plastic trees get a new meaning, decoration becomes meaningful and diets are totally meaningless. It is Christmas time.

It is interesting that though ‘almost’ everyone in the world knows that Christmas is a Christian holiday, there is a general tendency to accept it as a festive time for everyone. Reality is, no other feast has really made such success with the majority of people in the world as Christmas.

How Santa Claus makes it
Maybe one of the secrets of this success is the big help provided by Santa Claus , who has managed to capture the hearts of children and maybe adults, all over the world. The current white bearded, cheerful Santa with a bright red suit, holding a sack full of gifts, actually has a story of his own.

Again, a Christian-related account, of Saint St Nicholas who was famous for his help to the needy and kindness to children.

This charitable figure was later on introduced in his new form of the old man who rode on a sleigh, pulled by flying reindeers and went from chimney to chimney leaving presents to well-behaved children.
As modern life took over, most chimneys disappeared and Santa Claus came closer to all, finding himself a new home in most malls of the world.

While in Dubai
Outside Europe and America, one of the cities that seems to give a lot of importance to Christmas celebrations is Dubai.

Being a cosmopolitan city with many different nationalities living there and millions of visitors passing through its international airport, Dubai never fails to satisfy everyone’s fantasy.

Even before the start of December, most malls and hotels start their yearly task of putting up and decorating Christmas trees.

It has almost become like some kind of competition about who will produce the most magnificent tree. Stores and malls start huge sales and come up with ideas to attract both children and adults to shop in their outlets.

I have visited several malls in Dubai this December and found the Christmas tree of the mall of Emirates one of the most beautiful.

I also managed to see a video shared on Facebook about a school party where Santa Claus was flying over the school yard with some sort of device with an engine to land later with gifts to the students.

Restaurants and hotels also have a big chunk of business while offering packages for food, beverage and accommodation, all themed with festive moods and attractive prices, trying to outdo each other.

We are all not privileged
It is true that with all the crisis happening around us, for whoever has the attribute of compassion, there is always a bitter taste of sadness in these festivities, the bitterness of thinking about some fellow human beings who are not as privileged as others.

It should also always be that time of the year that everyone should become a Santa and look for a way to make others happy, yes I think we are all Santa!

DID YOU KNOW?
St Nicholas, or Santa Claus originally came from the Dutch version called Sint Nikolaas or Sinterklaas. The Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought this fun and lively tradition to America. This has given these traditions:
A merry old man with red and white clothes.
Eight flying reindeer later joined by Rudolph, the red nosed reindeer.
A home located on or near the North Pole.
The habit of filling socks or stockings with presents on Christmas Eve night.
Also the habit of entering houses through the chimney.
..compiled from internet