hristmas Gifts From Alpine George

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

In December of each year the children looked forward to a visit from Santa Claus as the children do in many countries. But in Lilliland there was something unique that wasn’t found anywhere else. It was a visit from Alpine George.

Like Santa, but separate and unique, Alpine George brought gifts to the people of Lilliland down from the Alpine Mountains. Santa traditionally brought gifts for everyone, of course, but mostly for the children. The children’s parents were very influential in telling Santa what he might bring.

The opposite was true for Alpine George. George brought gifts, but the gifts were from the children to their parents. The children were encouraged by Alpine George to make the gifts for their parents or shop for them in the market. Parents gave gifts to their parents, who were the children’s grandparents. All grandparents received gifts during this celebration.

This in no way took away from the joy of Santa Claus at Christmas time, but Alpine George was there to make sure that no one was missed. Children were encouraged to appreciate all the work that their parents did in providing a comfortable home in which to live and enjoy life as they grew up. They were loved and cared for every day, in every way.

Alpine George did not really resemble Santa Claus. Although Santa was an older man with a very full, long white beard, Alpine George was also an older man with a beard. But he was much thinner than Santa and his beard was grayish and shorter. Alpine George dressed in green while Santa was in red. Santa had reindeer that flew from the North Pole, while Alpine George just walked down the Alpine Mountain path to Lilliland.

The presents from Alpine George were from the children and their pets at this time of celebration.