THE STORY HOUR
VOL. I DECEMBER, 1908 NO. 2
EDITOR’S AND PUBLISHER’S NOTES
With this issue The Story Hour has the pleasant privilege of wishing all its readers a Merry Christmas. That the Christmas spirit may everywhere prevail, and prevail abundantly, is its sincerest wish; and if the stories herein told and retold will contribute their mite in enhancing this spirit, it will indeed feel that it is fulfilling its mission.
Among the many elements of cheer at Christmas time is the Santa Claus myth. Belief in this myth adds greatly to the enjoyment of Christmas in early childhood. The children who believe in it, and pass out of the literal belief without a shock to their faith, are to be congratulated. They never forget looking back to the time when they watched, waited and listened for Santa Claus, animated by an expectancy tinged with a happy fear.
But this belief naturally cannot persist through life. Near the beginning of the school period it must be replaced by a knowledge of the literal truth, which the children get usually from their associates. Whether the knowledge of this literal truth is to be more true or less true than the belief in the myth depends upon the parents, teachers and adult friends in whose care the children are. It rests with them to transform the myth into a symbol filled with meaning. The best things in life are such things as faith, love, kindness and generosity. These we cannot touch, hear or see. They exist primarily as soul experiences, and in order to make them more palpable and give them a base of reference we symbolize them. Now one of these symbols is Santa Claus. He stands for the cheer, good will and love of Christmas time, and every feature of his traditional representation symbolizes these qualities. He is as real as Uncle Sam, and his mission is no less important. He is the embodiment of Christmas love, and even children of six can appreciate this signification of Santa Claus. The fact that they previously believed in the kind saint literally only helps this appreciation. And who would not have a child believe in this kind of a Santa Claus, and believe in him always?