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Here Comes Santa Claus

December 19th, 2022 by Kenneth Abrahams

It is hard to believe that in a few short days Christmas will be here. All the sales are just about done. Cookies are finished baking. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Presents are wrapped, placed neatly under the tree, or hidden away from prying eyes and Jolly Old St. Nick will soon be making his annual pilgrimage around the globe. Christmas is a time of joy, warmth, and family.  It is also a time of unbridled excitement and wonder for kids. Many are focused on presents and the question of what Santa will bring to them; while others love the lights, the sights, the sounds, and even the smells of the holiday season. For the better part of 4 plus decades, I have seen Christmas through the eyes of those kids and the wonderment the season brings.

You can argue that there is no Santa Claus, he is a myth or a legend. For some, the opportunity to play the role of Jolly Old Saint Nick is a job with a nice paycheck at the end of the season. For others that are roped into doing it by a family member or friend, it is uncomfortable and a pain in the neck. I look at it as gift or a privilege. Sitting in that chair I have a view that few people will ever see or understand. Children from all walks of life, staring up at me with eyes wide open and mouths agape, some don’t even know what to say. Our conversations are private, just between me and the children. My voice is soft and gentle, there are no Ho, Ho, Ho’s, but there is the occasional deep belly laugh that makes my belly shake like a bowl full of jelly. I am Santa Claus.

If you have never sat in that chair, you have no idea what a warm, all-in, hug from a 5- or 6-year-old feels like. Or a handwritten note telling you how much they love you. It is easy for me to believe that Santa is real because they believe Santa is real. Watching a parent’s face light up as they hand you an infant who immediately snuggles against the soft velvet of your suit while tiny fingers are intertwined in your beard, is a pretty special feeling. Every time I see a child jumping up and down in line pointing to me saying over and over again to their parents, “It’s him, it’s Santa,” fills you with warmth and the joy of the season. Children love to talk to you and tell you what is going on in the house. Elf on the shelf along with what is happening at school are very popular topics. Having a child tell me that there is nothing that they want, so could I give an extra present to an under privileged child, makes me realize that there are still some really good people in this world.

Playing Jolly Old Saint Nick does have its drawbacks. Nothing breaks my heart faster than a child asking if I can bring their parents back together, cure an illness of a family member, or worse yet, bring a relative or a friend back to life. At those moments it is hard to find the right words or provide comfort, but I try. Turning down a request for a Barbie Dream House or a motorized Jeep that the parents in the background have made it clear is not coming is much easier than dealing with tragedies in a child’s life. Still, it is rewarding to have the opportunity to have those conversations, as hard as they might be.

One other little benefit is that you can help parents out. When they ask a question along the lines of “Does little Johnny need to be nicer to his siblings, you know where the conversation is headed. Not only do the kids’ faces light up at times, so do the parents. When Santa mentions room cleanliness, working a bit harder in school, or watching one’s language, it is not uncommon to get the big thumbs up or an ear-to-ear smile. All and all it is a role that I have been honored to play and donning the suit was wonderful this year. Please take this week to truly enjoy this holiday and time with family and friends. As they say in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.