As we grow older it is easy to forget the magic that the sheer mention of the word "Holiday" can hold for a child.

I have grandchildren, two boys, Davin, 6, and Henry 3.

Having been the fortunate alter egos of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the past twenty-five years, we have delighted in making surprise appearances at their home over the past five Christmas Eve's and reciting the fabled poem, singing and telling original stories during the holiday.

Recently, we hosted a "grandchildren's slumber party" at our house, allowing the parents a much needed night out.

All was well until 3 AM when Davin needed a drink of water. Realizing that he and his Grandpa were alone, Davin chanced a private conversation.

Davin leaned in close to his Grandpa and said, "I know who you are, Grandpa." Chris, slightly taken aback, responded, "I'm your Grandpa, Davin, that's for sure." He gave Davin a hug but there was obviously more in that 6-year-old mind.

"No, Grandpa, I know who you REALLY are." His voice went to a whisper and he snuggled as close as possible to his Grandfather's ear as he stated his truth, "You're Santa Claus. The real Santa Claus. I know!"

Chris laughed a holiday laugh.

"My parents don't think you're real. But I know the truth. I have seen the magic closet upstairs where you keep all your wonderful Santa suits." Chris could not help but give an evel hardier holiday laugh. There are seven Santa suits stored in the spare room closet upstairs and the make-up, hats, gloves and beards are all neatly stacked on shelves waiting for the next holiday season. Davin continued, "And I know that Grandma is Mrs. Claus!"

Davin looked intently into Chris's eyes and asked the deepest question of all, "If you are Santa Claus and my Grandma is Mrs. Claus, is my father an Elf?"

In fact, we began our entire Santa experience as a family holiday tradition and my son, his father, had been the first Elf, Sprite. Chris answered honestly, "Yes, your father was an Elf, for many years, and one of the best Elves Santa ever had."

"I knew it," answered Davin, "and I know what that means. If my Father is an Elf then Henry and I are Elves, too, right?"

Chris laughed. The crackle of a bright young mind had awakened the magic of the holiday all over again. He gave Davin a hug and lifted him up to tuck him back in bed. Davin caught a glimpse of me awake. "Grandma, tomorrow morning you have to make me an Elf costume. We won't tell my Mom and Dad, this will be our secret, but Henry and I do need official suits."

The morning came too soon, as usual, but right after breakfast I had two helpers around my sewing machine and we improvised the creation of customized Elf vests that are safely stored in the "official" magic closet. Privately, we all promised to never tell the parents that Santa was real. It remains our holiday secret.

Whatever holiday tradition brings your family together during December, celebrate the magic, it is all around us, all the time, if we just take the time to look.

Just When Does This Christmas Holiday Begin? by Chris Shoemaker

Nothing beats playing Santa Claus when the Christmas holiday season rolls around. As early as June, I start silently reciting "The Night Before Christmas" poem in my mind during my early morning walks. I fear that come December, I'll be caught off my guard for poor memorization with its resulting embarrassment if I can't recite the names of Santa's nine reindeer (oh, the horror!).

For me personally, the holiday season is full of hugs, excitement and children who can't wait to see Santa, so why wouldn't I welcome it with open arms? In a sense, I'm always thinking about Christmas throughout the year and anticipating all it embodies. Yet… did you happen to notice that everything related to the Christmas holiday came earlier this year?

Somehow, the 2007 Halloween and Christmas holiday marketing seasons blurred together into one seamless holiday continuum. If you weren't careful, grabbing for a plastic bag of trick-or-treat candy at the supermarket could have landed a holly-adorned wreath in your shopping basket instead. It used to be that the Thanksgiving holiday was marketed immediately after Halloween and Christmas waited its turn until after Thanksgiving –holiday, but not anymore. Black Friday, named for that predictable spike of retail profits (hence black like "in the black") the day after Thanksgiving (hence Friday), seems to have now shifted to the day after Halloween.

During this last October, just a few weeks before the Halloween holiday, I heard someone at a local Lowe's Hardware store complain, "I can't stand to see this Christmas stuff out before Halloween is over. It's a conspiracy by those $#@&*!! greedy corporate marketing directors. It's all ruined for me now!" We just can't let others, be they marketers, advertisers or whoever vies for our attention and dollars sway the way we view our world. Don't let them get to you. It's our money, and we decide with whom and when we spend it, or if it's even required - it often isn't.

And, if you think only we Americans are pushing each holiday too fast, think again. This past August, I drove with my family through England, Wales and Ireland for two weeks over 1,500 kilometers. Again and again, we saw signs that stated "Book Now for Christmas" in front of pubs, hotels and municipal civic centers before autumn had officially begun! It wasn't just us Americans after all. Our more reserved neighbors to the East were caught in the same accelerated holiday marketing cycle. I thought, "it's not just us greedy Americans after all!" as I snapped a picture of the sign for proof.

I'm saying "never mind" when we start seeing pumpkins, turkeys or Santas in our local supermarkets months before the holiday they symbolize. Since I'm not a cynic but probably somebody closer to a "magical realist" (aren't labels fun?), I truly believe that when it comes to kids, its not all about gift gratification at the end of the day. Children simply aren't that shallow and they certainly have deeper emotional needs than their material ones.

Each holiday is, and always are about the heart, our souls and the promise of love in all our lives. I love the term "Semper Ferians!" (Always keeping holidays). If everyday were like Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanza, wouldn't this world be a better place to live? Merry Christmas and have a Happy Holiday!