On December 20, 1870, Montpelier, Vermont, became a Christmas wonderland, every corner aglow with festive ornaments and glittering decorations. The entire town seemed to glow under a veil of snow, with streets lined with pine wreaths, red ribbons, and handmade garlands that filled the air with a sense of warmth and celebration. The delightful aromas of cinnamon, ginger, buttery shortbread, and sugar cookies floated from every home, mixing with the chilly winter breeze and drawing everyone into a holiday spirit.
The Christmas bazaar was bustling, as villagers flocked to shop for handcrafted ornaments, each made with love and creativity by local artisans. Glass-blown baubles, straw stars, and wooden toys filled stalls, while brightly colored scarves, mittens, and hats promised warmth. While adults haggled over gifts and decor, the children had their eyes on one prize alone: Santa Claus’s arrival. More than treats or toys, they eagerly awaited his Christmas visit, bringing legendary candies and gifts to make magic. Read more
This year, Santa Claus had prepared something extra special. He crafted a Victorian-style Christmas tree using copper tinsel and glass beads, carefully handmade to delight his children. In addition, with a twinkle in his eye and a love for all the children, he had spent the summer carefully planting a small lavender garden in a quiet corner of his own home. Nurturing it through the long, sunny months, he harvested the lavender in late autumn, drying and preparing it for a unique winter surprise. Inspired by its calming aroma, Santa had used the lavender to craft candies, cookies, and sweets unlike any he had gifted before.
Then, after days of baking and handcrafting his treats, Santa carefully packed the lavender cookies and candies into his sack. Also, he included bundles of lavender, wrapped in twine, as a delightful extra surprise. His sack overflowed with the purple sprigs, creating a cloud of fragrance that filled his sack.
On December 25, just as the snow began to fall more heavily, Santa started his journey to Montpelier. Despite the cold, not only children but also their parents bundled up in coats and scarves gathered eagerly in the town square. Just as they began to shiver, they caught a new scent in the air—lavender! It mingled with the other holiday smells but stood out with its unique, soothing fragrance. People began to murmur, wondering where this delightful aroma could be coming from, and then they saw him. There, in his lavender suit, with a snow-dusted beard, came Santa Claus, the lavender-scented bag nestled in the back.
“Santa!” the children cheered, their eyes wide with excitement. Santa waved to them with a grand smile, calling out, “My lovely kids, I’m coming!” His jolly laugh filled the square as he approached, the lavender smell surrounding him.
“What a wonderful smell!” the parents exclaimed, surprised and delighted by the unexpected fragrance. So, the lavender clung to his clothes, making Santa appear like a living bouquet.
With a hearty laugh, Santa opened his bag, revealing the lavender sweets. The children gasped in awe as he handed out bundles of lavender alongside his special cookies and candies, each one infused with the gentle, floral lavender flavor. Then, they took a bite and marveled, “Wow! These candies are amazing, Santa!”
The lavender candies delighted everyone, young and old alike, each sweet bite filling them with joy and wonder. Santa gifted each child a carefully selected present and a bundle of lavender to remember this special Christmas. Clutching gifts and sweets, the villagers felt holiday warmth fill their hearts as joyful parents cherished this unique Christmas surprise. Moreover, Santa’s lavender-scented gifts made this holiday one they would never forget, a beautiful memory woven into Montpelier’s Christmas traditions forever.
