I believe in Santa Claus. More than the jolly, old fellow who eats the cookies I still leave on my fireplace, I believe in his essence. I don’t associate Santa with Christianity; I associate him with the act of giving without receiving. By this definition, everyone I talked to in preparation for this Holiday Issue is also a believer.

Graciousness transcends religious traditions and, as I learned, even economic circumstances. When I wrote “Norwich Gives Back,” I could not decide what to include and what to leave out; community organizations across the board—from churches to synagogues to The Upper Valley Haven to Community Action Agencies—told me stories about the effort they have put into meeting other’s needs. While most people have fewer pennies in their piggy bank than this time last year, it does not seem that Norwich residents have stopped making holiday baskets, donating money for fuel assistance, or taking canned goods to The Haven. Marty James writes about how the Norwich Christmas Pageant has embraced this theme of giving in her article, “Norwich’s Christmas Pageant.”

Marty chronicles the life of the pageant, describing how Betty Booth got the townspeople to donate gifts to The Haven.

Ruth Sylvester shows how Clint Gardner’s first role in Norwich—as an angel in the 1940 Christmas pageant—has expanded internationally since his experience in WWII. As Ruth writes in her article, “He has since spent much of his life trying to spread important news.”

However you are involved in the town during this holiday season, I hope that this Norwich Times issue will remind you of the importance of giving. Whether or not you believe that Santa Claus circles above your house on Christmas Eve, you can believe what he stands for: give to feel the joy of giving.