The Secret Society of Saint Nicholas
As most of you now know, this household has a deep affection for St Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus.
To us, he is not just a red‑suited visitor of December, but a carrier of wonder. A patron of generosity. A reminder that extravagance, when rooted in love, can be a holy thing.
What you might not know is that long before we had bambinos of our own, we began a small and rather unofficial venture called the Secret Society of Saint Nicholas.
It started quietly.
A decision to let kindness wander. To give without announcement. To play our part in keeping goodness a little bit mysterious.
As our own children arrived, they first delighted in the generosity of St Nicholas. Then, when they were old enough, they were invited into the mystery of the society too — not as observers, but as full participants. They became Santas themselves.
The rules are simple: open hearts and open hands.
Sometimes the acts are small and lighthearted. Bubble wands tied to park posts with a handwritten “Take me” sign. Felt ornaments or candy‑cane reindeer slipped into waiting hands. Flowers. Homemade biscuits wrapped in cellophane and shared while wandering through Christmas lights or strolling the mall.
Sometimes the generosity stretches further. Paying for someone’s groceries without being noticed. Quietly covering a stranger’s coffee. Choosing a gift especially, then giving it at random and walking away before thanks can find you.
Each year looks different.
There is no set plan, no pressure to outdo the year before. We simply pay attention, and when an opportunity presents itself, we follow it. However it unfolds is exactly how it is meant to.
This is not about being impressive.
It is about being available.
It is about remembering that Christmas generosity does not need a stage. It only needs willing hands and open eyes.
Our unofficial motto is gently borrowed and slightly altered from Dickens: Go forth and show Him better man.
(I highly recommend The Muppet Christmas Carol movie. It remains a first‑weekend‑of‑December tradition in our home, and a joyful reminder that redemption, generosity, and singing vegetables all belong in the same story.)
So consider this your invitation.
Join the Secret Society of Saint Nicholas. No sign‑up required. No membership card issued. Just a quiet commitment to scatter kindness where you can.
May your December be filled with wonder.
And may your kindness, like Santa himself, arrive in ways that feel just a little bit magical.
