The Year Santa Shaved

The Year Santa Claus Shaved His Beard Off


One day, not so long ago, just before Christmas. Santa decided to shave his beard off. He thought it was time for a change. He had worn his beard for so long he had forgotten what it was like not to have one. Besides he thought the beard made him look older.

“But Santa," the elves cried, "How could you shave it off? It is so wonderful and it keeps your chin so warm!"
"Besides, it has taken you five hundred years to grow your wonderful beard!"

"That's right." agreed Mrs. Santa warned him, “And it is very likely to take another five hundred years to grow another."

"Pish! Posh!" Santa smiled and he went to the barber elf's shop"

The Barber elf did not want to shave off Santa's lovely beard. But Santa insisted he wanted it shaved.

All of the elves gathered outside of Santa’s house and waited for him. They all were very curious as to how Santa would look with out his beard.

When he arrived, none of them were able to recognize him! He looked completely different, not like Santa at all.

Why even Mrs. Santa was surprised by the change. Santa was mighty pleased with himself. He thought he looked much younger. He smiled and showed off his shiny beardless chin.


On Christmas Eve, Santa's elves loaded up his sleigh and harnessed the reindeer. And when he arrived to mount the sleigh the reindeer were frightened because they did not recognize him.

They could not believe their fuzzy ears when the elves explained that Santa had shaved his marvelous beard.

Then Santa was able to get in and he flew away into the night with a chilly, "Ho-Ho-Ho!"

“My goodness" Santa shivered” My chin is awful cold."
He wrapped his scarf around his face and continued on.

While he was delivering his Christmas load he was surprised by how many folks did not know him without his beard!

At one house a little dog who normally would help him eat up his milk and cookies, barked at him like a stranger!

At another house a little girl tip toed down stairs to get a peek at Santa. She burst into tears when she saw him! Santa had a beard. This couldn't be Santa! She was awful upset until Santa explained. The girl was not convinced until he gave her a doll she asked him for, for Christmas.

At yet another house it was a naughty boy who saw him. The boy ran and woke his Daddy who chased Santa out the front door thinking he was a burglar! Then he had to convince the reindeer that he was Santa because they had forgotten that he had shaved.

The entire night was a disaster! Over and over again Santa wasn't recognized. He had frightened so many little kids who had waked up to sneak a peek at him. Just about every dog barked and growled at him while he worked. And every so often the reindeer would forget that he no longer had a beard and would be surprised to see him each time he came up the chimney.

And besides that his chin was very sore with the cold. Santa missed his beard. Maybe he should have been happy with himself just the way he was.

When he arrived at home Mrs. Santa had his breakfast waiting for him. She knew he would need something healthy after all the milk and cookies he had munched all night long.

Santa slumped in his seat and stared at his plate. He was tired and cold and very very sad. Then he noticed something. He noticed a present sitting next to his plate. It was a Christmas present for him!

He laughed with a tired "Ho-Ho-Ho" and opened it.
It was a beard. A false beard with hooks like glasses to go around his ears and hold the beard up. He picked it up and examined it thoroughly. Why this was his very own beard!

"That's right," Mrs. Santa smiled as she kissed his cheek," It is your beard. The Barber elf saved every last hair and sewed it together. We knew you would want it back some time."

Santa smiled back and put it on. He began to feel a little like himself again. He certainly looked like himself again.
He promised himself he would never try to be something he wasn't again.

The End