Biker Claus

When I was growing up Christmas wasn’t about religion and it was never a word I used to offend someone. Christmas was about that jolly old man in a red suit that would watch you all year and reward you with a present for being good or coal for being bad, it was really that simple. Don’t get me wrong, I would never give someone coal because they were bad. I have fond memories of giving and receiving coal that I’ve added to the bottom of this page.

When I was a child my family would hang Christmas lights on the house so Santa could see us as he flew over. Our tree was decorated and lit by the front window so Santa Claus would know we were expecting him.
That was when I was younger but now that I’m older I still think about that jolly old man in the red suit and the thing we use to call “Christmas Spirit”.
How long until Santa Claus is just a memory and another word we can’t say because he represents Christmas?
Today presents are bought by the millions and coal is something we burn in a stove to keep our house warm.

To me Christmas is about becoming a little closer with family and friends. It’s an excuse to get together and share each others company. Giving someone a gift is me showing that I care about you and I want to show that I appreciate having you in my life by taking the time to pick out a gift and wrap it in some decorative paper. It’s the joy of you opening that gift and seeing the excitement and joy that it brings you.

When I say Merry Christmas the true meaning of the word to me is I wish you and your family well.  I wish you joy and happiness this year and years to come.
That was then and this is now. Today if I were to say that I feel like I’m swearing at someone or not respectful of them. The meaning of the word Christmas I was brought up to know and cherish has been taken from me. If I want to celebrate Christmas the way I was brought up to celebrate it I have to do it in private or say Merry Christmas under my breath so I don’t offend someone’s religion.

When I watch Christmas movies I don’t see or hear reference of religion. All the classics still have reference to Christmas, how long until they edit that out like a swear word?
I see the people giving thanks to one another and I hear the words “Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men”. Is there anything wrong with that phrase? Today people would say, “why just men” or “that’s a Christian saying”. That’s because we’re all different and unique. It’s the reason some of us like vanilla and others Chocolate. It doesn’t mean we’re bad just different.

When you celebrate this year I wish you and your friends and family joy and happiness.
My family will be celebrating Christmas in our house. Christmas lights will be hanging from our house for Santa to see and our Christmas tree will be decorated and lit by the window. Come over if you still believe.

This is my memory of coal:
When I was in my early 20’s my family was together on Christmas Eve. We celebrated Christmas Eve by having dinner together and opening presents afterward. At the end of the night all the presents were opened and unwrapped paper and boxes were cleaned from the living room and discarded.
Christmas morning we would wake up and there was always that one special gift that Santa brought for us.
Each year on Christmas Eve we had dinner and afterward we all sat around the Christmas Tree opening presents. My father was what you would call a man with a great sense of humor so that year I thought I would play a prank on him and wrap a lump of coal in a box from me. As we sat around opening presents we both got to the present that each of us bought for one another. I tried as hard as I could not to laugh or look up to see his face as I was opening my gift. As I cut the tape and opened the box I pulled back the tissue paper to see… COAL! He busted out in laughter and continued to open his from me. He cut the tape and opened the box, pulled back the tissue paper and there was his lump of coal. We both busted out in laughter so hard tears came to our eyes. Everyone in the room was laughing so hard that both of us had received coal but neither of us knew the other had bought it.

For me Christmas is about giving a little more.  I guess that’s part of the reason I started dressing as Santa.  I did it 4 years at work and then started doing it on my motorcycle.  I want to keep the memory and tradition alive.

The people we see on the road tell me we are doing the right thing as they go from grouchy Christmas shoppers to laughing, smiling people.  I know from the photos taken and people telling us it’s great what we’re doing that we made their day a little less stressful and gave them something to take about to family and friends.

If you’re a Biker Claus in your community I would really like to hear from you.  Keep the true spirit of Christmas alive!