Now that we’re in the holiday season, I’ve been reflecting on what makes this time of year so special to us. I think it has a lot to do with the traditions we cultivate and hold dear. We may not even realize how important these traditions are until they no longer exist.
I remember one such tradition from my childhood. It began on Thanksgiving evening—the first broadcast of the season of Santa Claus’ radio program in my hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio. Remember, there were only radio, television, newspapers, catalogs, and magazines back in the day. There was no social media to immediately transmit our thoughts or receive other people’s reactions of the day. So, promptly at 4:30 p.m. each day from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, Santa went on the air and into our homes, much to the delight of not only the little ones, but the entire family who would gather to listen.
“Ho, ho, ho,” Santa would chortle, reading letters he received at the radio station that outlined what his young listeners wanted for Christmas. Keep in mind, a written letter was the only way to communicate to jolly St. Nick in those days. There were no text messages with a detailed list of desired toys, no internet links to ensure the recipient got the exact item he or she requested.
(When our two sons were small, they eagerly anticipated receipt of the Sears catalog, the most comprehensive compilation of toys. They would eagerly thumb through the catalog multiple times, dog-earing the pages. They would then labor over their letters to Santa, assuring him they had been good all year long, expressing gratitude for last year’s gifts, and wishing Santa and his reindeer a good flight on Christmas Eve. They might also throw in a benevolent wish for all the other children to also receive a nice bounty.)
Back to my radio Santa experience: Santa would read each letter, paraphrasing what the child was asking for, and mentioning the child by name. Now and then, he would take a break and allow Miss Merry Christmas to read a story. Her voice was pure melody, and you imagined that she was beautiful and kind. Sometimes the story would span several broadcasts. It was an added bonus to the program. Then Santa would phone a child and speak to him or her about their Christmas list.
I was one of the children that Santa called. It was magical! I recall being so nervous and excited and breathless that I could hardly respond to his questions. He asked if I had been a good girl that year, what my little brother wanted for Christmas, and what was on my Christmas list. I assured Santa I had been a good girl with a monosyllabic response and probably didn’t much elaborate on what my little brother wanted. I do remember asking for (and receiving) a doll that wet itself. Yes, the same one that I pumped full of water from her little bottle and that peed all over my older cousin (added delight!) who wanted to see my toys on Christmas Day when he visited.
This radio-Santa tradition was so very special, as you might imagine. Even when I was older, I listened to the program. Each Christmas Eve, Santa would conclude the broadcast saying that he had just one more letter to read after sign-off and that he and Rudolph would begin their world tour immediately after the show.
Today’s children have the Elf on a Shelf and all kinds of technology that allows them to communicate with Santa. He even has a phone number (319-527-2680). These have become the newer traditions, and children will remember them fondly, until they are, in turn, replaced with updated traditions.
Fortunately, the tradition of leaving a glass of milk and cookies for Santa is an enduring one. Now it includes leaving carrots for the reindeer. We were so poor, we didn’t leave anything for the reindeer. What other additions to this tradition might be next? A GPS for Santa, or maybe a super-bright LED navigation system to aid Rudolph? Maybe a fleet of drones to help Santa and cut down on his travels?
Whatever your traditions, I hope that this holiday season is filled with joy for you and your family.
Merry Christmas!
Bonnie Brown is a retired staff member of the University of Mississippi. She most recently served as Mentoring Coordinator for the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.
