In the 20's and early 30's there was always a big Christmas Eve celebration, which was attended by all of the Grand Canyon community -- and -- also by many Navajo Indian families who would travel for days to be there.

Everyone would gather at the Community Building where there was a big Christmas tree and lots of decorations (the work of our Moms). We all sang Christmas carols, then watched a pageant which was performed by local talent (?). Each year a different story usually written and directed by Ethel Metzger -- and always involving the Nativity and the spirit of Christmas. After that came the GRAND FINALE -- the long-awaited arrival of Santa Claus.

Each year this very important role was played by a well-known Grand Canyon resident, but his identity was always kept a secret. I remember the year I was chosen to play the part of a little girl in the pageant which afforded me the knowledge of who Santa was -- what a super ego trip that was for one little Margaret Ann!!!

After greeting everyone with some well rehearsed, "Ho, Ho, Ho's", Santa went right to his work and proceeded to give each and everyone -- an apple, an orange, and a decorated cardboard box with a string handle that contained some nuts, a few hard candies and some chocolate vanilla cremes which were called Bon Bons. I can still see them and remember their sweet, sweet taste!

When Santa had given everyone their gifts he then took his leave to start his annual round-the- world Christmas Eve journey. We all returned to our homes to sleeplessly await the crack of dawn to see what surprises had been left under our Christmas trees -- and the Navajos started their long journey back to the reservation clutching their precious gifts.

We Grand Canyon kids loved those Christmas Eves, but as I look back now, I'm still aware of how much it meant to those Indian families who traveled so far -- some on horseback, a wagon or two for supplies -- some small children, the rest on foot, sometimes in four to five feet of snow. They had with them their crop of pinion nuts laboriously picked from the ground after the first frost, to trade for supplies at the General Store --then on to the Community House to await their turn to receive their gift from that magician in the bright red suit...an apple, an orange, and a little box of candy!

Whoever said, "There is no Santa Claus."? The Navajos knew better!

Used by permission of the Grand Canyon Pioneers Society.

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