Yes, China, there really is a Santa Claus—圣诞老人真的存在!

Another Christmas in China is fast approaching, with allits potential for boosting GDP. The holiday has penetrated every corner of thecountry. Christmas songs started playing in convenience stores and markets inNovember. Twinkling Christmas trees abound, and cardboard Santas, and reindeer,and elves beckon shoppers to empty their Wechat wallets.

In a Tianjin supermarket last week, I brushed past afull-size robotic Santa Claus and triggered its motion sensor. Thewhite-bearded Jolly Old Elf began to dance and chuckle: “Ho, ho, ho!” Whatcould I do? I took a selfie with him.

The religious overtones of Christmas have long since faded,supplanted by commercialism. But that’s OK with me. Apart from wrecking my bankaccount for the good of society, the holiday provides an opportunity to renewfriendships, connect with colleagues, express appreciation and interact withloved ones. These things are often accompanied by gift-giving. If buying themhelps the economy, so much the better.

But what really sets Christmas apart is the magic.

Young children innocently believe in magic, and it’s atragedy that so many adults grow out of it. I never did.

At the center of Christmas magic is Santa Claus. Childrenin America know that one night each year, after they go to sleep, the kindlyred-clad elf with the white beard visits in his flying sleigh pulled byreindeer. He leaves gifts — toys, treats and even ordinary necessities, whichsomehow became more wonderful — in stockings or under Christmas trees, to bediscovered in the morning with wide-eyed delight.

Memories of those magical moments linger with me still.They return every quiet Christmas morning when I rise before dawn. 

Never mind the cynics who say that Santa should be arrestedfor breaking into people’s houses in the dark, or those who say his flyingsleigh should be shot down by the military. Overlook his bad example of beingoverweight. (His belly “shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly”, accordingto one poem.) Ignore the unlikely logistics of visiting billions of children ina single night. None of that matters.

The magical message of Santa Claus is selfless giving. Heembodies unconditional love, which seeks no personal reward. That is the spiritof Christmas.

You say it was really the parents, not Santa, who laid outthe gifts while their children were asleep? Think again. Santa Claus is as realas love itself. He transcends logic. And he can miraculously bring joy to Chinaas easily as anywhere else (even if he needs helpers).

Of course, if you stop believing in Santa, he will stopcoming — which should be a warning to parents everywhere who think they boughtthe gifts. You can get them free if you simply believe. If you don’t, you’redoomed to remember paying, which only diminishes the joy.

This is the great lesson of gift-giving. Give, and thenforget. Don’t seek credit. Don’t keep accounts. Liberated from the ledger, aperson becomes free to believe in miracles.