I've never played Santa-in-Costume, but this discussion has got me thinking of one of the first times I played "Secret Santa" in college -- I think it was my sophomore year.

We played for 5 days -- the final week before going home for the winter holiday. For the first 4 days, our gifts were to be small, no more than $1, stuffed into a sock hung on the wall; the final day, we'd present a larger gift, wrapped in a box, and all open them together, revealing our secret.

Well, we all wrote our names on slips of paper, and put them in a hat. I pulled the name of a nursing student. The nursing students only hung out with their classmates, not with the Humanities students, like me. I couldn't even match her name to the any of the faces in the room, and someone had to point out which one she was. And we didn't do hint lists, like we do here on Mudcat, either.

So, that first day, I was stumped. I filched an orange from the cafeteria salad bar, because when in doubt, it's always good to fall back on Ancient Tradition. But I knew I had to add something more. So I went into the college bookstore and scanned the snack and novelty items they had for sale. Should I get her a mini teddy bear, to make her laugh? Or a chocolate bar? Or a bag of microwave popcorn?

Just then, I heard a voice -- the way you do when your memory replays what someone has just said to you -- not whispered, but not exactly your own voice either: "Get her the chicken soup." And that's what I did: a Lipton's 4-pack of Instant Chicken Noodle.

Well, I hurried back to the dorm, looked around to be sure I wouldn't be spotted, shoved my two items into my santee's sock, and hurried to my own room. I was just fitting the key in my lock, when I heard my santee come in from outside, and go straight for her stocking; I paused to hear what her reaction would be.

"An orange!" I heard her exclaim. "And chicken soup! Just what I needed! I'm coming down with a cold!"

I couldn't help grinning as I slipped into my own room at last. But I have to admit a shiver went down my spine -- for who else but the real "Santa" would have known this?

I don't remember much else from that round of "Secret Santa"; I don't remember what other gifts I gave, and I don't remember what gifts I got.

But none of that really matters. At 21 years of age, I regained my belief in the Magical Nicholas. And that's the best gift of all.

A joyous Yuletide and blessed New Year to all of you!