Thanks for the note yesterday... It was a surprise to hear you talk like that. I had nothing but the best intentions for getting your picture with Santa. Now I know you were scared... cuz when I was a little boy, I got scared of Santa too. So as your Dad, I feel it's necessary to give you all of the angles on things. Like when I told you that formula tastes good now, but soon you'll start to like milk... and how it was o.k. that we had to get you bigger diapers and it doesn't mean that you're getting fat it just means you're growing up.
Well, this is one of those times. You see, we have it pretty good here in the good ole US of A. In other countries, their "Santa" isn't as well thought out or even as well-groomed as our Santa. Yes, people in other countries have it worse off than us. Let me share a little about the scary holidays that Italian children have to face.
La Befana is one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated legends. Each year on January 6 the children of Italy awaken in hopes that La Befana has made a visit to their house. This is a significant day to Italians because it marks the end of the Christmas season and the day that the three Wise Men arrived at the manger of the Christ child. Over the years the Epiphany has been a more celebrated holiday for the children of Italy than even Christmas.
As legend has it the three Wise Men were in search of the Christ child when they decided to stop at a small house to ask for directions. Upon knocking, an old woman holding a broom opened the door slightly to see who was there. Standing at her doorstep were three colorfully dressed men who were in need of directions to find the Christ child. The old woman was unaware of who these three men were looking for and could not point them in the right direction. Prior to the three men leaving they kindly asked the old woman to join them on their journey. She declined because she had much housework to do. After they left she felt as though she had made a mistake and decided to go and catch up with the kind men. After many hours of searching she could not find them. Thinking of the opportunity she had missed the old woman stopped every child to give them a small treat in hopes that one was the Christ child. Each year on the eve of the Epiphany she sets out looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at each child's house to leave those who were good treats in their stockings and those who were bad a lump of coal.
Make sure to keep those stockings hung by the chimney in hopes that La Befana will soon be there.
So the truth comes out... Santa offloaded his gift giving duties to some old lady. I guess even at Santa Corp. LLC they have turned to outsourcing in the Middle East. So, I hope this has given you another take on the Santa experience so that next year you can be a big boy and smile nice for your mom and I... Oh and one more thing. try not to think about the Boogie Man in your closet.
Love... your Dad
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