Make Believe Santa

When I was a kid I used to play Cowboys and Indians with my brother and sister. (I know that's not politically correct, but it's a fact.) There was an element of truth in the history of the "Cowboys and Indians" for sure, but we were only pretending. It was like we were in the Wild West. It was an adventure in our imagination. It was fun. It was make believe.

It's the same with Santa.

And there are some Christians who are just so uptight. (Been there. Done that.) For these, Christianity is a chore. It's a burden to be carried. It's a weight. It's a bunch of rules and regulations. (These are earning their salvation after all?) They've lost their joy. They may have never even had it.

And let me just cut to the chase: Of course we're not replacing Christ with "Claus." (We're not that stupid.) We are only pretending. It's an adventure in our imagination. It's fun. It's make believe.

"'Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:3)

P.S. "Santa Claus" is a historical figure, you know. Some of us would do well to mimic his faith. (To read more about Saint Nicholas, click here.) I don't necessarily agree with everything said about St. Nick, but it's hard to dispute the story of his service for Christ.

Test Your Knowledge of Christmas

Sing with me: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling, And everyone telling you, 'Be of good cheer,' It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” (Hey, you did that good!) And I just can’t help but sing, my friends. The Christmas spirit’s got a hold of me and won’t let go. How ‘bout you? And I couldn’t help but think what better way to spread some more "good Christmas cheer” like the song says than with a quiz? So how are you with the subject of Christmas – songs, traditions and other assorted facts? Find out with the following questions (answers below). And most of all, have a Merry Christmas, everybody.

1. Who wrote the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and in what year? (a) Eddie Pola, George Wyle in 1963; (b) James Lord Pierpont publ. 1857; (c) J. Fred Coots, Henry Gillespie in 1934; (d) Irving Berlin, 1942.

2. The names of the Magi/Wisemen/Astrologers in the Christmas story were: (a) Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego; (b) Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh; (c) Larry, Curly and Moe; (d) none of the above.

3. Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Which of the following stories did he look to for inspiration? (a) The Ugly Duckling; (b) A Christmas Carol; (c) It's a Wonderful Life; (d) Charlie Brown Christmas.

4. The big guy in the red suit and hat that says, "Ho, ho, ho," goes by many names including... (a) Tim Allen; (b) Saint Nick; (c) Father Christmas; (d) Kris Kringle.

5. The official determination on whether or not it's a "white Christmas" is: (a) snow flurries at noon on December 25th; (b) heavy snowfall for at least 10 minutes on Christmas day; (c) 1 inch of snow on the ground at 8 a.m. Christmas morning; (d) 1 inch of snowfall taking place any time between midnight and midnight.

6. The most famous Christmas Carol of all time is: (a) O Come, All Ye Faithful; (b) Away in a Manger; (c) Silent Night; (d) Joy to the World.

7. One of the most popular/infamous gifts at Christmas is - can you guess? - the fruitcake. (Have you ever received one?) Which of the following facts are true about the fruitcake: (a) 25 is the number of years that a fruitcake can age and still be enjoyed, as long as it has the right preservatives and is stored in a tightly closed tin; (b) 1 to 1 is the ratio of the density of the average fruitcake to the density of mahogany; (c) a little more than 1 in 10 people say they would make time to regift a fruitcake to give it to someone else; (d) all of the above.

Answers: 1. (a) – “b” wrote Jingle Bells; “c” wrote Santa Claus is Coming to Town; “d” wrote White Christmas 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (b), (c) & (d) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (d)

(This test was developed and based on information from the following websites: Christmas Songs Lyrics, All Things Christmas, Counting on Christmas Statistics and Christmas Carols. Used with permission from @blogboy2.)

Test Your Knowledge of Christmas

Sing with me: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling, And everyone telling you, 'Be of good cheer,' It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” (Hey, you did that good!) And I just can’t help but sing, my friends. The Christmas spirit’s got a hold of me and won’t let go. How ‘bout you? And I couldn’t help but think what better way to spread some more "good Christmas cheer” like the song says than with a quiz? So how are you with the subject of Christmas – songs, traditions and other assorted facts? Find out with the following questions (answers below). And most of all, have a Merry Christmas, everybody.

1. Who wrote the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and in what year? (a) Eddie Pola, George Wyle in 1963; (b) James Lord Pierpont publ. 1857; (c) J. Fred Coots, Henry Gillespie in 1934; (d) Irving Berlin, 1942.

2. The names of the Magi/Wisemen/Astrologers in the Christmas story were: (a) Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego; (b) Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh; (c) Larry, Curly and Moe; (d) none of the above.

3. Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Which of the following stories did he look to for inspiration? (a) The Ugly Duckling; (b) A Christmas Carol; (c) It's a Wonderful Life; (d) Charlie Brown Christmas.

4. The big guy in the red suit and hat that says, "Ho, ho, ho," goes by many names including... (a) Tim Allen; (b) Saint Nick; (c) Father Christmas; (d) Kris Kringle.

5. The official determination on whether or not it's a "white Christmas" is: (a) snow flurries at noon on December 25th; (b) heavy snowfall for at least 10 minutes on Christmas day; (c) 1 inch of snow on the ground at 8 a.m. Christmas morning; (d) 1 inch of snowfall taking place any time between midnight and midnight.

6. The most famous Christmas Carol of all time is: (a) O Come, All Ye Faithful; (b) Away in a Manger; (c) Silent Night; (d) Joy to the World.

7. One of the most popular/infamous gifts at Christmas is - can you guess? - the fruitcake. (Have you ever received one?) Which of the following facts are true about the fruitcake: (a) 25 is the number of years that a fruitcake can age and still be enjoyed, as long as it has the right preservatives and is stored in a tightly closed tin; (b) 1 to 1 is the ratio of the density of the average fruitcake to the density of mahogany; (c) a little more than 1 in 10 people say they would make time to regift a fruitcake to give it to someone else; (d) all of the above.

Answers: 1. (a) – “b” wrote Jingle Bells; “c” wrote Santa Claus is Coming to Town; “d” wrote White Christmas 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (b), (c) & (d) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (d)

(This test was developed and based on information from the following websites: Christmas Songs Lyrics, All Things Christmas, Counting on Christmas Statistics and Christmas Carols. Used with permission from @blogboy2.)