Virtual Advent Tour: A Christmas Story

Once upon a time, approximately 1980 + a few years since certain events in a little town of Bethlehem, there was a little family, father, mother and a daughter (let's call them Dad, Mom and Tiny Bit), living in a little suburb on the edge of a city in a country somewhere in the northern parts of the so called Old Continent. As it was customary in those parts Christmas in this little family was celebrated on the Christmas Eve and as it is customary all over the world this family, like all others, had their own Christmas traditions they followed faithfully year after year. Firstly, on the 23rd: bring in the tree & decorate. Secondly, on the morning of the 24th: Dad: roast the Christmas ham, Mom: sleep late, Tiny Bit: try not to disturbe either Dad or Mom.

During this particular Christmas everything had gone according to the plan. Came Christmas Eve afternoon the tree sparkled in the living room, the delicious scent of Christmas ham hovered around the house, and as always, the little family had walked to the beautiful St. Lawrence Church to lit candles on the graves of their loved ones. When they returned Dad stopped in front of the garage and said he needed to check something. Mom and Tiny Bit left Dad at the garage door and slowly walked around the house admiring the Christmas lights on their and their neighbours' back yards. Dad was not in when they entered and Mom expressed her surprise at him taking so long checking whatever it was he wanted to check in the garage.

Then the door bell rung. Mom and Tiny Bit looked at each other. "What an earth..." began Mom. "Did Daddy forget his keys?" asked Tiny Bit. "No, I don't think so", said Mom all puzzled. Tiny Bit went and got the door.

And there he stood! No Disney version of Mr. Claus, but Dad dressed in rubber boots, wearing his fur coat inside out, fur hat on his head and with a beard made of cleaning cotton adorning his face in a proper old fashioned Father Christmas style! Tiny Bit was flabberghasted! Mom was totally speechless! 

"Ho, ho, ho! Are there any good and nice children in here? said Dad/Father Christmas in a proper Santa Claus -style. "Yes", Tiny Bit managed to say. She was still staring at her father and hardly believing her eyes. "So, this is why it took you so long to return from the garage! Mom exclaimed. She was starting to laugh. Tiny Bit joined her and soon they were both laughing so hard that tears of joy were pouring from they eyes. "I cannot believe this! I can-not be-lieve this!" Tiny Bit said time and again between bursts of laughter and all the while Dad stayed coolly in his role and started picking up presents from his basket and delivering them to his daughter and his wife.

When all the presents had been delivered and the special Father Christmas had done his job and they had laughed so hard that their sides hurt Tiny Bit hugged her father tightly and proclaimed with authority: "You were the best Santa ever!"