Santa Claus is the God of Children, and manifesting Him in the material world is the work of adults.  

Jungian psychologists would call this identifying with and acting out an archetypal energy.  In Voudon, this would be called "carrying" the spirit.  In Magick, this is called entering into the aspect of the deity, resulting in the thaumaturgy called evocation to visible appearance.

We make Santa "REAL" in the material world by manifesting his energy in our own generosity.  Unfortunately, not all Pagan parents can do it this year without help.

2008 Secret Santa program!

For the past several years, CUUPS has sponsored a Secret Santa program, to provide Yule gifts to low income Pagan children. After all, Santa is the first God which most children worship, and it's up to Pagans to bring Him into manifestation for our own needy children!

Parents provide the first name, and a wish list for each child, so that we can make at least some of those wishes come true. The modesty of the requests in the past has been so touching: a pillow, mittens, a warm hat.

In 2007, the Secret Santa program served 15 children.

As you might imagine, the number of Pagan families with requests has exceeded what any single Pagan group can serve. Plans are already underway for expanding the Secret Santa program for Yule 2007. We've set up data bases for organizing the collection of wishes and distributing those requests to Santas while keeping the children anonymous.

We began publicizing this program in September 2007 at Pagan Pride
We are delighted that this year Secret Santa is being co-sponsored by the Upper Midwest Pagan Alliance (UMPA). We anticipate that as this program becomes better known, more struggling Pagan families will ask for help in making their children's Yuletide dreams come true.

Please consider participating in this program, and inviting your friends to do so as well. If you knit, crochet, or sew, please let us know about how many hats, scarves, and/or mittens you can provide. As soon as we get wish lists, we will be posting color preferences and ages.

Who can be a Secret Santa?

Anyone who wants to help a parent make this Yule special can make a BIG difference in a local Pagan child's life.  

It's no secret that many adults, especially those who are child-deprived, find the holiday season filled with more sadness and dissatisfaction than joy. Being a Secret Santa can help bring meaning and joy into your own holiday season. 

But you don't have to be a childless adult to spiritually benefit from being a Secret Santa.  Children who are old enough to tell you they don't believe in Santa Claus are JUST THE RIGHT AGE to make Santa Claus "come true" for a younger child. Selecting a present for a needy child can teach YOUR child not only to appreciate what they have, but the truly magickal power of empathy.

If you'd like to be a Secret Santa, click HERE! We'll contact you within 3 days.

How It Works

For Parents

If you are a Pagan parent with children, and need a helping hand making the Yuletide season special for the kids, click HERE! You will nee to fill in the form giving us information about your children's names, ages, gender, and, gift wishes. There are 2 forms. If you need to include more than 2 children, you can fill out the first, and then, click HERE for the auxilliary form. We will do our best to make this year special!

F

For "Santas"

Since requests are MUCH greater each year, we need MORE Secret Santas.  That means we have to find a way to avoid present duplication.  We are working up a database to match gift requests with Secret Santas.

The Santa Form is the way to become a Santa. Once you have indicated your wish to be a Santa, we will provide a list of children and their "Wish List." To avoid "outing" a child, only the childs' age, gender, and a code will be provided. Look over the list and choose one child you would like to be a "Santa" for. This will help spread the cost for each Santa.

Delivery Logistics

As much as the Secret Santas would enjoy watching a child open the present, we understand that children need to receive them from their parents, or Santa Claus at home, according to their families' customs.  For this reason, parents will be receiving the gifts concealed in grocery bags or boxes.

Most parents will be picking up their bags at Yule on Saturday, December 20 from 4 - 7 pm at First Unitarian Society. In the Stillwater area, recipients will be getting them from Higher Grounds at a time and date to be determined.

The earlier we can get these gifts, the easier December 17th and 18th will be, because we'll be matching gifts with requests, and trying to assure that no sibling is gifted much less than another.  UMPA has kindly offered their Nov. 11 meeting as a drop off point. You can also bring Secret Santa gifts to ANY CUUPS function between Samhain and Sunday, Dec. 16. Please let us know you're coming in advance, so the door remains open and you know where to find us at FUS.

If possible, please deliver Secret Santa gifts BEFORE Dec. 16.

We are also in the process of setting up additional drop off points. All Santas will be notified of the options so they can choose the times and places most convenient for them.

We ask that you bring gifts unwrapped and with receipts in case of a product recall. (Two requested gifts turned out to be safety hazards last year.)

You CAN contribute wrapping paper and ribbon, and we'll try to include some in each parent's bag.

If  You'd  Rather Write a Check

This isn't a fundraiser, but Secret Santa won't turn down money, if that's the easiest way for you to participate. We'll use those funds to purchase the gifts that others haven't covered; if any is left over we'll use it for tape, ribbon, and wrapping paper for the families. We DO ask that if you are giving money to that program that you write SECRET SANTA in the memo, but make the check to CUUPS-TC and either deliver it at any CUUPS event or mail it to 

CUUPS-TC,  
c/o First Unitarian Society 
900 Mount Curve
Minneapolis, MN 55403

You can also drop off checks (not gifts) at FUS during their business hours. Make the check out to CUUPS-TC and mark your memo "Secret Santa." Just be sure your check is in an envelope marked CUUPS. We have a "mailbox" there now.

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updated October 5, 2008