Masayoshi Nakawo
Our grand son and his mother came to see us on the 23rd of December, 2018. We had a great time with him, but they went back home on the following 24th, since he has to be at his home in order to get a gift from Santa Claus on that night. He was believing the presence of the Oldman.
This reminded me the old time of more than 30 years ago, when I played a role of Santa Claus for my son and daughter. For them to be certain that Santa Claus lives in the real world, I proposed them to serve him with a glass of beer. On the morning of the 25th, what the children found were gifts from Santa Claus, emptied beer bottle and the glass, and a thank you letter from him. The letter was written in English, saying that “ Thank you for the beer with excellent taste”. Having a look at the letter, our children have convinced that Santa Claus lives in their own world.
Most people know that Santa Claus lives only in fiction, criticizing the false tale which gives a hint of his reality. Santa Claus, however, make little children become able to believe what they have not seen before with their own eyes. In other words, they become ready to prepare a room in their mind for Santa Claus to live（Matsuoka、1978）. Once grown up, they are sure to accept that no Santa Claus in reality. They have achieved, however, a wonderful ability to believe what they have never seen by their eyes such as dream or hope. They are capable of having such dream or hope in their room of Santa Claus.
I believe that keeping the room of Santa Claus in one’s mind is so much important and valuable.
Reference
Matsuoka, Kyouko（1978）『サンタクロースの部屋』こぐま社、pp.248.
（January, 2019）