The skinny on Santa
Topic: - santa
Did you know there’s a Santa school? That there’s such a thing as a strolling Santa? That some Santas give seasons greetings in many languages?!
Well, I don’t think I’m telling readers anything they don’t already know by clarifying that in the weeks before the actual big day there are a lot of Santas out there helping the real Santa by talking to kids about what they’d like for Christmas, whether they’ve been naughty or nice, in general collecting all those important details.
One person who has done a lot of in-depth research on Santa is Georgetown’s Steve Norman. Steve has managed to get up close and personal to one particular Santa who looks like the real deal. Steve has gleaned much information from this Santa. That’s how he found out about the Santa school.
Why is Steve so interested in Santa? “My mother and father were quite gung-ho on Santa. And I was too as a youth,” he says.
“When I was young,” he continues settling into raconteur mode, “all our friends had television, but the Normans didn’t. Dad said it was a passing fad…. We asked Santa for one, and lo and behold, we got one.”
Relating to the young at heart has always interested Steve. In addition to 30 years as a middle school teacher in English, social studies and drama in the Peel Board, Steve just retired this fall from 20 years of service in the scouting movement -- as a Beaver and Cub leader, Venturer advisor and in administration at the district level.
Perhaps Steve’s interest in Santa has been heightened by certain shared similarities. “I possess the same natural physical attributes, as you know,” says Steve, referring to his beard and self-described “portly physique.”
The Santa that Steve has come to know quite well is the one promenading at the Dixie Outlet Mall. The Dixie Santa is the person who put Steve on to the Santa school, run by Victor Nevada out of Calgary. (You can find more info on the school’s website at
www.santaschool.com .)
Classes consist of about 12 people, at least half of whom are from the US. The program runs over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. A wide range of experts are brought in: a psychologist to give insight on interacting with youth, a make up artist, voice coach, movement coach, along with sessions on costuming, media relations and business management. All sessions are completed in full Santa gear. The cost of the program is currently about $500 US.
Graduating from Santa school is just the first step. Next comes cultivating the right image. Steve’s sources say designers are out there who can turn out a spectacular Santa robe, “with full fur effect.”
The Dixie Santa that Steve has bonded with is a “strolling Santa,” too energetic to be content sitting quietly on a stool receiving the confidences of the hopeful.
This strolling Santa roams the mall with candy canes and jingle bells. Dixie Outlet is a neat spot because it’s a “very multicultural mall,” Santa has told Steve. “Some of the people there have perhaps never experienced Santa before. It’s an opportunity for them to get closer and experience what other people have been telling them about.”
In encounters with Santa, there are two classic responses – “kids either come flying up to you for a big hug. Or they break into tears. I have a special set of wrist bells and boot bells so they can hear me coming,” Santa has explained.
This Santa is a singing Santa, urging the kids to join in on his signature song, “Up on the Housetop.”
As a more “secular Santa,” Dixie Santa has made it a practice to learn ways to say “Merry Christmas” in several different languages, including Polish, Greek and Portuguese.
Dixie Santa has noted that Muslim families may be more standoffish than others in approaching Santa. However once he wishes them “Eid Mubarak” (coming Dec. 22), that helps break the ice.
Remuneration is not high, sources say. But for many Santas, it’s not about the money. His goal is for Santa to “bring a little joy, no matter what the culture,” says Steve’s subject.
Nor is it a cushy job. Dixie Santa reports he’s over 60 and at the end of the night, he’s really tired.
As we wrap up our chat, Steve points out it’s St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6), feast day of the patron saint of all Santas.
It figures Steve would be attuned to that bit of detail. He’s be tracking Santa for a long time. Steve knows his Santa stuff. Mom and Dad Norman would approve.
[To appreciate a few more pictures from Steve’s collection, click here.
If you’d like to tap into some of the wealth of info Steve has collected on Santa, contact Steve at goodsaintnick@sympatico.ca .]
Posted by sutter or mckenzie
at 10:35 AM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 19 December 2007 8:12 AM EST
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