French Santa Claus (Revised)

I can't believe it.  Someone I don't know actually wrote to me about my blog.  Being loyal to my fan base, and considering my younger readers, in the spirit of Christmas I have decided to revise the following paragraph.  If you want the original story, email me.


In case you did not know, Alien X is a super rare Ben 10 action figure that Gaius wanted for Christmas as far back as last summer.  In August, just before we moved to France, Gaius wrote a letter to Santa, informing him of our change of address and requesting Alien X. [this portion of the blog is being redacted like in those crazy government documents you see in spy movies.]  All ready for Christmas.  Aren't I organized?


Our first day shopping at our local supermarket, guess who was on the shelf, front and center in the toy aisle?  Yup.  Alien X.  I explained to Gaius that he should not buy Alien X, since he had already asked Santa for him.  And, believe it or not, he listened to me.  So every week, we'd go to the market, visit the toy aisle and see Alien X still there.  All lonely.  Wanting to come home with us.


And then we went shopping at the big Carrefour Market in Les Ulis where they have the toy aisle to rival all toy aisles.  Guess what Gaius found?  An even better and more rare Alien X.  The big one.  When he said he wanted to buy it, I wholeheartedly agreed.  I mean, I'm as big a fan as the next guy, you know?


So, now that Christmas is here, Gaius has realized that he asked Santa for the wrong gift.  Which leads us to this letter:

Dear Santa, I changed my mind.

I read that in 1962, a French law was passed guaranteeing that every child who writes a letter to Père Noël will receive a response in the mail.  This must be true, since I read it on the Internet, right?  Well, taking no chances, Gaius mailed the letter in the special mailbox that was set up in the Mairie (town hall).  I hope he gets an answer!

so excited!

 In France, Santa is skinny.  Did you know that?  I don't know how that is possible considering all the good wine, cheese and pastries they have here.  I read a little about Père Noël and discovered that he rides a donkey.  Also, instead of giving a lump of coal to naughty boys and girls, his counterpart Père Fouettard gives them spankings.  My Dutch friend, Esther told me that the Dutch Sinterklaas actually arrives in a steamboat.  And guess what happens to the bad kids?  They get thrown into a sack and taken to SPAIN.  Dutch Sinterklaas does not have elves.  Instead, he is helped by Black Peter, who used to be a slave but now in modern times is just black from chimney soot.  Anyway, it appears as though our American Santa actually springs from the Dutch Sinterklaas.  If I am wrong, please blame the Internet.

Père Noël

We went into Paris on Wednesday to meet with an English Speaking Santa Claus.  He actually had a British accent, which I thought was pretty cool.  He was really young and was wearing sneakers under his costume.  He was so nice to Gaius.  Even though there were other children waiting, he sat and spoke to Gaius for at least five minutes.  When we left, he asked Gaius for a bise (kiss on both cheeks.)

English Speaking Santa

The coolest part about English Speaking Santa was his location.  He was on the Champs Elysées in a Scottish Church right next door to Chanel!


In case any little kids are reading this, in our family we believe that the "Department Store Santas" we encounter during the holidays are actually Santa's Helpers.  Since Santa is busy up at the North Pole in the days leading up to Christmas, his helpers act as "stand-ins" for the big guy and pass along all little kid's comments and messages.


Merry Christmas everyone.  Young and old!


à bientôt!