Santa
by Cynthia Marone
There are only a few legends who are so famous a person that you can figure out who they are by their descriptions alone. Usually, no last names are needed. Jet-black pompadour, glittering jumpsuit and a deep, rich way with a song? Elvis. Breathy voice, platinum blonde hair and a famous physique? Marilyn. Twinkle in the eye, jolly demeanor and a hearty “ho, ho, ho” that causes his belly to shake like a bowl full of jelly? Santa. If the last one gave you pause before Claus jumped to mind, it is time for a proper introduction.
Santa J. Claus, much like his rarely used middle initial, is a mystery even to those who know his background. People may recall he loves children, rides a sleigh to work and that December 24, when he slides down chimneys to leave gifts under Christmas trees, is his busiest night of the year.
Santa’s red suit with white fur cuffs, big black boots and snowy white beard are well-known, but the jolly old elf’s inner life or what he does the rest of the year are much more elusive. Apparently, he does a lot and not all of it has to do with Christmas. “I paint, I draw, and I sculpt in clay,” Santa, who is 1,745 years old, said. “I’ve been all over the world, and it’s all up in my head. I recall what I’ve seen and throw a little Christmas magic into it. I’m a Santa of many talents.”
Santa calls the North Pole home, yet he is a global citizen. He is famous in just about every country, where he goes by different names including Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Father Christmas in the United Kingdom. Here, he may also be referred to as St. Nick or Kris Kringle. No matter what he is called, he surrounds himself with the tools to make Christmas dreams come true. For Santa, that means a workforce of elves, a stable of flying reindeer and a bustling workshop that produces every toy imaginable.
The Christmas season is his most demanding time of the year, but he is far from idle January through November. There are reindeer to feed, workshops to check, nice and naughty lists to review and toys to design and build. His days, he said, are spent in preparation, observation and, occasionally, vacation. “I’m usually checking letters. They come all year long — I was just going over some — and I send replies all year,” he said. “I take a small vacation in July. I’m not a big fan of hot weather, so I go to North Pole, Alaska. It’s cool, but not like the North Pole. I do have a boat.” (This explains why Santa is sometimes shown in snorkeling gear or on water skis.)
Self-care is important to Santa. It keeps him perfectly portly and happily ho-ho-ho-ing. In addition to his yearly respite, he takes nightly sleigh rides with Mrs. Claus and indulges in his favorite foods, especially ham and turkey. “Every day is a holiday meal for me,” he said.
Santa makes what he does in one night look easy, even though it seems impossible. That confidence comes from centuries of experience and knowing the hiccups before they happen. “The hardest part is probably getting the elves together and finishing up. They like to slack off and play around, especially that last night,” he said. “They have to organize, sort and load the sleigh. I stay jolly because it comes back to the joy of the season, family and the children — elves, sometimes.”
Santa’s job and his eternally rosy outlook comes with unique perks and colleagues — slacking elves notwithstanding. Each house he visits has cookies and milk waiting for him and the occasional carrots for his nine reindeer. With every nibble, he thinks of and silently thanks the children that leave him these, but he admits he has a sweet treat preference. “My favorite is a nice oatmeal raisin cookie. I love that they are soft and chewy and there are not a lot of crumbs left in my beard.”
Though never one to gossip about who is naughty or who is nice, he does not mind hearing tales about himself. His favorite is not about him, but rather the latest addition to his reindeer squad, Rudolph. “There’s more detail, but the story is fairly accurate. I love the song, but I can’t tell you the details. You can’t have all the secrets! Let’s just say he was a little more reluctant than the song lets on. It took a bit of bribery to get him to take the lead,” Santa said.
A shocking revelation, considering countless versions of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” have him eagerly jumping in to light Santa’s journey that foggy night. What could have been the lure? “There are certain fruits and vegetables that are brought to the North Pole, like kiwi,” Santa said with an air of finality.
Santa is a man of many secrets— and that is exactly how he likes it. Children always wonder how he can deliver all those toys in one night, how there is room in his sack for every gift and how he can fit down their chimneys. He chalks it up to magic but offers a few details to clear up any misconceptions. “Reindeer are really quick. They only fly on Christmas Eve. There is no reason for them to fly any other time, so they save it up. My sack is simply a sack inside a sack inside a sack,” he said. “Chimneys have a lot more space than you realize. How I get down them, that’s a Santa trade secret — and sometimes it’s just a tight belt.”
For such a public figure, Santa remains an enigma. It has been this way for centuries and, if he has anything to do with it, it will remain so for centuries more, but he is clear about what and who are the real stars of the holiday. “Christmas is all about love and family, sharing time with family and being there for family,” he said. “The gifts are small things.”
Santa can downplay what he does, but it means so much to so many. He has many helpers that make his brand of magic happen. In addition to Rudolph, the elves and Mrs. Claus, Santa’s support team also includes Santa Jack Lopez.
Santa Jack has been officially working with Santa Claus for 12 years, helping him by donning the red suit to visit with children at public events and private functions. Santa Jack initially handed out candy for the Souderton-Telford Jaycees as a teen and, years later, began visiting shelters and nursing homes. It was fun and a way to celebrate a holiday that meant so much to him and his mother, said Santa Jack, who has lived in Bristol for five years.
After a visit to a women’s shelter, the professional artist knew he also wanted to dedicate his life to being a professional Santa helper. “There was a little girl who was so sad it broke my heart. She wanted one thing: a Monster High doll. It took a week, but we found it. We took it to over late Christmas Eve, and her mom started crying,” Santa Jack, who grew up in Quakertown, said. “It’s one of those things that hits you that ‘I need to do this,’ and it was that little girl. It was like a calling.”
Santa Jack, 49, plans to add video chats, personal videos and a coloring book to his website as ways to connect with children. Until then, letters to Santa — getting them, reading them and replying — keeps him busy. He gets them the tried-and-true way via a drop box set out during his visits. “I’ve kept every letter I have ever gotten,” Santa Jack, who is married and raising seven children ages 4 to 24 with his wife, said. “I have boxes full of letters.”
Santa Jack Claus will hear Christmas wishes at Philadelphia Mills, 1455 Franklin Mills Circle, Philadelphia, PA, through Dec. 24 and at the Holiday Village at the Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA, from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 7. For more information or to contact Santa Jack Claus, visit santajackclaus.com or www.facebook.com/SANTAJACKBRISTOL.
Cynthia Marone is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Northeast Philadelphia.