“Godfrey”, said my wife Carol, “Do you remember we were talking about the Australian Electoral Commission changing the electoral boundaries in North Eastern Victoria, including Benalla and many smaller towns near here. Apparently there has been total confusion at Post Offices up and down the Hume Highway.”
“I must say I’m a bit worried about Santa’s Pixies”, I replied. “Apparently the boundaries are still in doubt and the Pixies are totally confused. Usually a fortnight before Christmas they begin checking the names and addresses of children so their presents are delivered to the correct address. I’ve heard they’ve had to start early and double check them this year.”
We were sitting around the kitchen table with our grandchildren and with this story my little grandson’s eyes opened even wider than usual.
‘Grandpa, do you really believe in Pixies? Do you really believe in Santa Claus’?
My little grandson looked rather troubled. His mother told me he’d been hearing things from the bigger boys at school.
“That’s a good question! It is all a bit confusing.
When I was little, Pixies and Fairies were regarded as ‘fictitious beings’, which means that they may exist or may not. As I grew up I began to notice they were often held responsible for all sorts of coincidences and acts of goodwill.
Pixies were often blamed for the breaking of incidental items around the house such as a misplaced screw or a blown light bulb. Sometimes they were congratulated when a cup of tea just happened to appear when needed or a kettle boiled just before a visitor arrived. At other times Pixies worked together to do extra good deeds.
Fairies were responsible for acts of goodwill, such as when the Tooth Fairy left a $2 coin in the special glass left out when I lost a tooth.
Pixies and Santa Claus? Pixies are particularly well known for assisting Santa Claus at Christmas time. They toil for weeks before Christmas to make it a success.
I remember some Pixies telling me once that the most difficult item to place on the roof is the special hay for Santa’s reindeer. The reindeer were very excited at the thought of clamboring up the side trellises to get to the hay when they arrived at our house.
I could never fathom out how Santa could pull up the reindeer and tether them to our front fence without them ripping palings off the bearers to get to the roof to get the hay. I became particularly worried one year after my father told me the reindeers had wrecked the front fence trying to get to the hay. Christmas was coming and he had not bolted the fence back together again! How would they manage?
Another activity Santa's Pixies take part in at Christmas time is supplying refreshments for Santa and his reindeer. Santa is of course always very thirsty after travelling all night to deliver presents to children who often live on farms a long way from one another. It was traditional at our house to supply quite copious amounts of beer to slake his thirst. Come the morning in the cold light of dawn – even in summer – there was always a sizeable mess to clean up. Santa and his helpers had obviously had a good time! (Apparently the Pixies were somewhat to blame as it seems they had sat up most of the night telling stories to the reindeer!)”
I could see my grandson looking at me really thoughtfully, still looking rather uncertain…
“I guess I like to think it’s all a bit of a mystery… and a bit of fun. Believing in Santa and his helpers helps to create a happy atmosphere for families at Christmas time. I know it did at my house”.
“And mine”, said Carol.
“Don’t worry”, I comforted him… “I’m sure the Pixies will manage to sort out the confusion caused by the changing electoral boundaries and that all the children in Indi will receive their Christmas presents on time—including you!”
“Long live the Pixies! Long live Santa Claus!”
RSS Feed
