ANSWER: According to Rohan, they all say, "Ho, Ho, Ho."
At an early age, he has completely grasped the Christmas spirit.
Rohan first encountered a Santa Claus in the CVS drugstore nearby, sometime around Thanksgiving. Soon afterwards, we got our Christmas tree (long-needled pine as always) and decorated it ("Ball! Alo! Ho, Ho, Ho!") One day, we had gone with some friends to our local garden center to see the train display, llamas and goats, and ex nihilo appeared a Live NBS (Naturally Bearded Santa for those without family members investing in Santa-rental companies.)
Rohan was wide-eyed with awe at seeing a breathing incarnation of the man he knew only to be a tree ornament. When Santa walked away to go take a break, Rohan chased him, saying, "Ho! Ho!"
Never having really believed in Santa, and being a poor liar, I am avoiding the Santa myth. But from the library, I brought a nativity book that Rohan read multiple times, often saying "Baby," as he pointed to Jesus in the manger.
Last year, I was mostly terrified every time I put myself in the shoes of Mary, probably crushed by the weight of the knowledge that her baby, probably drooling and saying, "ooo, ooo, ooo" a week past epiphany, was to be a Savior. This year, I felt stronger in the face of snow-covered nativity scenes on porches and lawns all around.
Jesus's Christmas vs. Rohan's Christmas
- Jesus's visitors: shepherds, magi, animals
- Rohan's visitors: 5 cousins, 4 grandparents, 6 aunts/uncles, countless family friends
- Jesus's gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh
- Rohan's gifts: toy vacuum cleaner, tricycle, books, blocks, + more
- Jesus's dad built: probably something out of wood. Cradle would have been nice.
- Rohan's dad built: a four-entrance cardboard box fort (see our photo gallery for a pic!)
Recently, however, two other people have been named "Dada" by Rohan, and here are the honorees of this title:
Yes, CK, this may be the only time in your life you'll be lumped with our commander-in-chief, so make the most of it.
