Catonsville's Santa House 2011!

The Catonsville Santa House, located in the heart of Catonsville, next to the firehouse, is a heart warming sight. Santa arrives each year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving and this has become an annual family event for my family and judging by the crowd, many others. This tradition was started by Greg Morgan, a Catonsville native, 16 years ago when his youngest son, who now as tall as Dad, was just months old. It has grown to include caroling, refreshments and fireworks. So many volunteers have worked over the years to build, maintain and decorate the House, we will never know their names.  But their efforts are appreciate by so many.  We have attended in bitter cold years, and unseasonable warm nights, just to watch for Santa's arrive in Catonsville atop the firetruck.

It is a remarkable event, in that there are small children, shaking with excitement, middle school kids giggling and gossiping, high school teens mingling and planning the weekend. There are parents and grandparents. It just seems this is the place to be the 3rd Saturday in November. The line at Santa's door forms early. I have stood in that line with my kids to be one of the first to say, "Hi." and welcome Santa back to Catonsville. I have also stood outside when my children were "old enough to go by myself." to receive their welcoming candy cane. Each year, I enjoy watching the passengers on the detoured MTA buses, pressed against the window to see what is going on, then they smile when they realize it is a Christmas street party.   One year, my family had the privilege, to spend a Sunday afternoon in October painting the Santa House, our way of saying, "Thank you." for all the years of joy.

One year I stood with a fellow mom whose youngest are in middle school, as Santa's arrival was announced. The smallest children were all lifted atop Dad's shoulders in an effort to catch the first glimpse. My mom-friend remarked how she missed those years of exited children. And then I looked at our middle schoolers, too big and too cool to get on Dad's shoulders, instead they stretched on tippy toes to get a glimpse of the "Jolly Old Elf."

This year the Catonsville High School football team who went to the semi-state finals game on Friday night with a 12-0 season, stood on the stage to be saluted by a loving community.  When the sea of supporters cheered as each team member walked on the stage, I hope the memory of Friday night's loss melted from their minds.  The rugged football squad counted down the arrival of St. Nick, the tree lighting and the fireworks. Then they stood on tippy toes, stretching to catch the first glimps of St. Nick as he rode down the street, proving we are all kids inside. It is the magic of the Catonsville Santa House that makes everyone excited to see Santa.

I often think of our Catonsville children, as they get older and move away. Do they realize this is a unique community? When they arrive at their new town, they will ask, "Where is the Santa House?" And when they find they do not have one, will they return home to Catonsville to raise their kids? This is the real magic of the Santa House, and our community.

Merry Christmas.