Joan Janzen
for The Clarion
One of the most sought after celebrities at this time of year is, of course, Santa Claus. Fortunately, I was able to conduct an interview with the man in red, in spite of his busy schedule. Here’s how the interview played out …
Q: What is the most unique gift request you have received from a child?
A Santa selfie.
A: I had a boy, probably about 12 years old, ask for a doll one year. When I asked if he could tell me why, the boy said he wanted to be sure his sister got a doll for Christmas, and he wanted to give it to her. That touched me a lot. And there was a four-year-old girl who was terminally ill who wanted a teddy bear, and wanted Santa to bring it to her. I’ll always remember that.
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I get the usual requests for puppies, kittens and live animals, but I always tell the kids that Santa doesn’t do that because it’s too cold on the sled for animals. They have to ask Mommy and Daddy for that. And Santa doesn’t do money, but kids always ask anyway. Some kids will tell me what they want for Christmas, but they won’t tell their parents, so I get them to write a letter to Santa.
Q: What do you do when kids see you and cry?
A: I don’t force the issue. The first time kids see me they might not have anything to do with me, but the second time they come right into my lap. Once, parents brought a really shy toddler to see me. We put him on my knee with the parents holding him and took the picture. Then I turned him around, he looked at me and touched my beard and started to giggle.
Generally, kids either chatter a mile a minute telling me what they want for Christmas, or they cry. It’s one or the other. As for teenagers, the largest group I had was a senior high school girls basketball team who had their picture taken with me. And I’ve had a lot of pictures taken with senior citizens, but I’m not sure who was the oldest.
Q: Have children asked you any funny questions?
A: I’m always asked how do I get in my house, and I tell them Santa has a magic set of keys that are made out of flying reindeer fur. Kids also ask if the elves get time off, and I tell them After Christmas I fly them anywhere they want to go for a vacation.
Q: Considering your white beard and hair, you must be a senior citizen. How do you keep up your strength?
A: It’s Mrs. Claus’ cooking, cookies, milk and hot chocolate that does it.
Q: What do you do when you try on your Santa suit and find out it doesn’t fit anymore?
A: I haven’t had that happen, so I don’t know.
Q: You live at the North Pole, but where do you like to go on vacation during the year?
A: Anywhere south. After all, if you’re going on vacation you don’t want to stay where you are. And I know where all the good vacation spots are.
Q: Do you really like cookies and milk?
A: Yes, I really like cookies and milk; that’s my problem. I’ve had just about every kind of milk, depending on where I am; I’ve even had goat’s milk. Whether I like it or not, I choke it down.
Q: What do you like best about being Santa?
A: The best part of being Santa is I enjoy the kids, seeing the wonderment of the Christmas season in their eyes. The kids don’t care what they get, as long as they receive something. I like the Christmas spirit and I’m a fan of Christmas carols. I think we should keep the Christmas spirit in our hearts all year round, not just at Christmas.
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