Home > Work > The Autobiography of Santa Claus (The Christmas Chronicles #1)
1 " Not all magic is fireworks and fanfare. Sometimes magic is quiet and sneaks up on you. An illusion is what needs all the bells and whistles to make itself appear grander than it really is, which is just a trick that can be explained. "
― Jeff Guinn , The Autobiography of Santa Claus (The Christmas Chronicles #1)
2 " Since the British now ruled what had been Dutch colonies, English became the official language there and the Dutch had to learn to speak it. This wasn’t easy. They had trouble pronouncing certain words in the new language. So when they earnestly began to tell the Christmas stories to their newly arrived English neighbors, they couldn’t quite say “Saint Nicholas” clearly. What the English listeners heard was “Sintnicklus” and walked away thinking the gift-giver was “Sinta Klass,” which they soon pronounced in a more traditional English way. For the first time in America, some children began believing that their Christmas presents were delivered by “Santa Claus. "
3 " Thank goodness these people have been converted,” Felix said with relief after the Saxons let us go. “They’re devout enough to send missionaries safely on their way.” “It’s too bad they’re not devout enough to remember the phrase ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ ” I said sadly. “Yes, they let us live, but how many innocent people will die at their hands tomorrow? "
4 " when asked his philosophy of life, he replied, “Moderation in all things. "
5 " It’s not the value of the gift, but the philosophy of the giving and receiving,” Francis replied. “It’s a hard world, all in all, and to receive a present means someone else cares for you, that you’re not alone. "
6 " For at least one day of the year, past quarrels are forgotten and strangers are greeted as friends. "
7 " I think they’ll get better a lot faster if we don’t spend so much time moping. "
8 " All there ever seems to be in this world anymore is war and killing, so let’s enjoy fellowship and peace here for a little while before we go out into the confusion again. "
9 " Always keep December twenty-fifth special. It works wonders on human hearts, and I think more good is accomplished on that day than is done all the rest of the year. "