Guinn - The Autobiography of Santa Claus

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Table of Contents

ALSO BY JEFF GUINN

The Great Santa Search

How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas

Our Land Before We Die:

The Proud Story of the Seminole Negro

JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN

a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

New York

Editors Preface

I WROTE A BOOK WITH SANTA CLAUS. Not too many people can say that. In fact, Im the only one I know of.

In just a page or two, Santa will begin telling you about his life, and in his words, not mine. But I thought you might want to know how this book came to be written in the first place. It was sort of an accident, but a wonderful one.

A few Decembers ago, my newspaper printed a story Id written about little-known facts of Christmaswhy its celebrated on that specific date, how the name Saint Nicholas was changed to Santa Claus in America, and some other things. Most of us take our Christmas traditions for granted. We have no idea about when some of our favorite customs started, or who was responsible. I enjoyed writing the story, but I pretty much forgot about it right after it appeared in print.

A few months later, the receptionist in the newspapers lobby called my third-floor office and said a man was asking to see me. He seems very friendly, she explained. He says his name is Felix.

The fellow was about average height and had an engaging smile. He was dressed in an ordinary gray business suit, wore glasses, and was a bit overweight. I guessed he was in his early forties.

Youre Felix ... ? I asked, expecting him to tell me his last name.

Just Felix. He grinned as he removed a bit of folded newspaper from his coat pocket. It was a copy of my Christmas story.

We read this with a lot of interest, Felix said. Its all right as far as it goes, but it didnt really have much important information. So we took it to him, and he said he believed it was time to tell the real story, all of it.

Not pleased to hear my story criticized, I replied sharply, Who exactly is we, and who exactly is him?

Felixs smile grew even wider. I cant tell you yet. What we hope youll do is agree to accompany me on a trip. When we get to where were going, youll get your answers. Pleasedont worry. This isnt a trick. Its just that were people who value our privacy. Youre going to be asked to help with a writing project, but before we leave, you must agree not to tell anyone about who you met, or wherethats if you decide you dont want to get involved.

Like most writers, Im curious by nature. Besides, there was something about Felix that made me trust him. I agreed to his conditions. We left the next day to meet this mysterious him.

I cant describe the trip itself. Obviously, we went to see Santa Claus at the North Pole, but part of my agreement with Santa is that I cant reveal how we got there.

When we arrived, you can imagine my shock at being greeted by an instantly familiar figure. In person, Santa is everything youd want him to bewise and jolly, white-bearded and thick-bellied, and, above all, genuinely warm and caring.

Before we had our private talk, Santa introduced me to some of his helpershis friends, he insisted on calling them. My amazement at actually meeting Santa Claus doubled when I found myself shaking hands with some of the most famous people who ever lived and, apparently, hadnt died. I wont name them hereSanta will do that in his own time.

Once we were finally in Santas study, seated in front of a warm fire and munching chocolate chip cookies, he explained why he had invited me to the North Pole.

The true story of Christmas, and my part in it, is as wonderful and complicated as the world itself, Santa said. Very few people really know much about the holiday at all. For some time, Layla has been urging me to tell the real story, so everyone will understand Christmas and Santa Claus better.

And Layla is ... ? I asked.

My wife, of course, Santa chuckled. Shes a much more interesting person than the meek little lady people usually picture when they think of Mrs. Santa Claus. Anyway, Im not a writer myself, so I thought I might find one whod record my story as I tell it, then turn it into a book for everyone to read. The story you wrote for your newspaper convinces me that you truly love Christmas, although Im afraid you dont know nearly as much about it as you think you do.

How could I refuse? I called home, told my family Id be away for a while, and began helping Santa with his book. It seemed more like fun than work. Santas stories were full of adventure and wonder. Sometimes, Layla, Felix, or other friends would join us and add their comments.

Throughout the project, Santa insisted that our book be historically accurate. We want readers to learn some things about world history as well as the history of Christmas, he constantly repeated. Whenever any date or other fact was in doubt, we consulted history books. So, as amazing as it might seem, just about everyone whose name you read here really did exist. Only a few of the main charactersPhillip, Felix, Layla, Dorothea, and Willie Skokancant be found in history books, because they valued their privacy so much.

Well, thats enough from me. Santas the one whose voice you want and need to hear, so prepare yourself for a unique story thats equal parts history and magic.

In closing, let me assure you doubtersthere really is a Santa Claus. I learned from working on this book that you dont need to go to the North Pole to find him. Its only necessary to look into your own heart.

Jeff Guinn
Fort Worth, Texas

Foreword

YOURE RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN ME.

Oh, I know its hard sometimes. There always are people eager to tell you there isnt a Santa Claus, that Im just a story made up long ago and trotted out every Christmas since. I suppose I should be angry with them, but I feel sorry for them instead. Have you ever noticed that its always unhappy people who attack the things happy people believe in? Thats been my observation, at least, and I suppose Ive been around long enough to know.

So lets start with this. Ive decided its time to tell the real story of Santa Claus, and to have it told by the one who knows it bestme. Its a long story, going back the better part of two thousand years. Ill try not to bore you too much with dates and places, but there are important times and people in my life you should know more aboutmy wife, for one, and Felix, who was my first helper fifteen centuries ago, and others. Without many faithful friends, my role in Christmas wouldnt have been possible, and thats one reason I want to tell my tale. I always get the credit. From the beginning, my philosophy has been, Its better to give than to receive, and I want to see the credit properly shared among all those who deserve it.

I remember one time, for instance, when the pilgrims maintained it wasnt right to celebrate Christmas at all. They decided anyone caught observing the holiday would be punished, and I found myself telling Felix that I should just give up ever doing my holiday rounds in the new land called America. Felix convinced me otherwise, of course; well tell that story in its proper time. But its a good example of why someone else deserves some of the glory. Probably I was just feeling discouraged when I made that remark to Felixeven Santa Claus gets discouraged sometimesand almost certainly I would simply have waited the pilgrims out. Still, its also possible that without Felixs encouraging words, no child in the United States would ever have awakened Christmas morning to find filled stockings and a present from old Santa under the tree.

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