Rituals

It's the most wonderful time of the year--Christmas.
Every year there is always one ritual that is performed in front of various supermarkets, Wal-Mart, and even malls. A man, usually with a bit of weight to him, dresses up as Santa Claus, stands in front of the doors with a red bucket-like can, and waves a little hand-held bell while yelling "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Holidays!" to everyone who passes by. Some people see Santa Claus with the can and drop in some change before going into the store. Santa grins and gives them a miniture candy cane in return. Some people choose to do their shopping first and put money in the can on their way out. Others avoid all eye contact, pretend like they don't see Santa Claus, and walk straight past him both on their way in and way out.

I have personally done all three. One reason I put money in the can is because of my personal guilt. If I have money to shop for food, then there's no reason why I couldn't spare a bit of change for someone else. Another reason I put money in the can is because I feel sorry for the Santa Claus. Who likes standing around in the cold jingling a bell for people who may or may not drop in change, and only a few cents or dollar bills at that? Dropping money in the can and acknowledging his efforts feels like the right thing to do. Sometimes it can be a nuissance because it's not just one store that performs this ritual. What if I donated change at one store and encountered another Santa Claus at a different store? That Santa Claus doesn't know that I already donated some money, so I end up donating more money to show that I have a heart. But on the other hand, it's a good reminder for us to slow down and realize that Christmas is not just about preparing the food, gifts, and decorations. It reminds us that there are people to be helped and cared for besides ourselves and our strict circle of family and friends.

Some people participate enthusiastically in this ritual; others, more reluctantly; and some don't care or bother. Whatever level of engagement we have, this ritual contrasts dramatically with the countless ads that try to appeal to our tastes and interests and lure us to buy their products. The ads are about providing us with our wants and needs, but the Santa Claus collecting money ritual shakes things up a bit and shifts the attention from ourselves to others in our community, even if that shift is short-lived.