"Secret Santa" conjures up some great memories.
First, way back when, Sears used to hold a special shopping "day" (actually two whole hours) FOR CHILDREN ONLY. My dad would take me down to Sears on a Saturday morning and the store personnel would escort dozens of children in to do their shopping ... while the parents stood outside drinking coffee. I thought I was some big stuff, shopping all by my 6-year-old self! Does anyone else remember this?
Then, when my first two boys were small, I was part of a Welcome Wagon group. We women made crafts to donate so that our children could "shop" for family. Santa made an appearance, naturally, as seen here with my son Dan, then 11 months old. He was none too happy with Santa! Think about it: a tiny child being plopped on the lap of a large man in a red suit and big white beard. Darn scary.
When my kids were in elementary school, their school put on a Secret Santa event every December. Moms and dads set up tables down the hallways, loaded with inexpensive merchandise on consignment from local stores. The children could do their shopping and wrapping on their own while parents ate hot dogs and popcorn in the gym. The kids absolutely loved it, and their school is still doing the event.
Got any secret Santa memories?
4 comments:
From what I remember, I have never liked Santa. And clearly, Dan doesnt either!! (I knew who Santa was thru my detective Nancy Drew skills and b/c of my Dad's handwriting...)
When my children were young there was a mall in town that had a "talking Christmas tree". I took my three to tell the tree....who in turn talked to Santa....what they wanted on the big day. My son (Brian) was about four, daughter (Wendy) three and baby (Tracy) just barely walking. Daughter Wendy was wearing a blue fur coat with hood, her blonde hair peeking out and her electric blue eyes sparkling as she danced and sang to the tree. The entire mall came to a standstill to watch this little doll interact with the voice coming from the tree. It's a stand out memory, and I still see that little girl in my mind when I look at my beautiful children today.
The Allen County Museum has a Little Children's Shoppe every year, beginning the day after Thanksgiving. It is held the same time as their Christmas Tree Festival, where local businesses and organizations decorate trees to fill the museum and musical groups fill the museum with their songs.
It started sometime when I was a teen. Our school music groups were scheduled to sing and play there. Later, my daughter went when she was young to see the trees and shop. Talking with "Evergreen the Talking Tree" was always extra special.
Afterwards, we'd go next door to see how the MacDonell House (local mansion) was decorated, and then see the log cabin behind that for 1800's decorations. Then we'd go out back for children's crafts.
It's an amazing treat! http://web.mac.com/paddy.wac/Site_2/CTF.html
(We never did the "Santa" thing growing up, though.)
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