Week 2

While he may seem unequal in comparison to the Virgen de Guadalupe, Saint Nicholas was the most prominent and annual figure in my childhood. My parents did an exceptionally painstaking job to keep me in the dark on Christmas Eve while leaving clues and markers of his they knew I would spot and analyze in the days following. Santa Claus arriving represented a momentous occasion every experience of my developing years, especially having an active imagination. His presence was always a surprise and a delight, forbidden to see for fear of disbelief, a utopic sight that never quite seemed attainable and yet the drive to witness such an illustrious figure in the flesh heightened with each year until finally a truth had to be shattered. Preserving the mystery and anonymity of such a noble figure is also what makes the legend of the Virgen so charmingly appealing. We choose to believe in such icons more for what they represent than their actual existence. Indeed Santa Claus has come to symbolize commerce and economic necessity as with many traditions muddled from the past, but the virtues of generosity, forgiveness and goodwill have survived the years due to their reputable quality. As with many stories, the validity becomes irrelevant at a certain point due to the positive outcome from hearing them, being the reaction they elicit. Without such magnanimous characters to inspire us in the stories of our lives it would give us one less reason to feel connected and empathetic towards each other and humanity at least once a year.