Being Ho-Ho-Ho-Man
@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
December 15, 2016 3:29am CST
Today I have to attend a party of about 15 children. I need to don my beard, glasses and red cloak with hood so that I am no longer my ordinary self but the embodiment of 'the Spirit of Christmas', which is what is expected.
I have to greet each child, ask them if they have been 'good' (they usually claim that they have been, whatever that means!) and what they are hoping for for Christmas. I try to avoid specifically saying that it is I who will bring the gifts, because some of them, at least, are aware of the real situation.
After the greetings, I settle myself in a chair and wait until they have finished their tea. Then they gather round while I read them a story. It can be quite tricky to choose one which is suitable because the ages usually range from about 4 to 9 or even 10. I find that about five minutes is ample and a book with pictures which I can show as I tell the story is best.
Finally, there is a sack of presents, wrapped and each with a name on, which I have to give out. There are suitable oohs and ahhs, of course and then parents very often want their children to stand by me whilst they take photos and the party comes to an end.
It sounds fun and hardly difficult but I actually find it more challenging and stressful than sitting in the grotto and seeing children individually.
16 people like this
17 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
15 Dec 16
I only recently came to know about these "Grottos" that seem to be a big thing in the UK. Here we have mall santas, and in rural areas, santas that sit in tractor supply (a chain store). Telling Santa what we wanted for Christmas was a big thing growing up, but we were never given gifts by that Santa. In fact, going to see Santa seemed to be more of a reason to behave for the remainder of the month. Coal in our stocking was often threatened by our parents and grandparents.
Photos are definitely taken with the Santa, and usually a candy cane given by "Santa's Little Helper."
I think some malls have a little "house" as decoration, but every place I have seen or been to, has never had the santa sitting in the house awaiting children.
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
It seems that it is mostly garden centres and some large stores which have grottos (perhaps because they have the space to do so). Some even have complex mechanised 'sleigh rides'. Usually, a fee is charged and a gift is given or can be selected. Sometimes the cost is quite high - I have seen £15 (about $20) charged for some. The one I do only charges £5 (about $8) and the gifts I have available are well worth that!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum Some of the 'Santa Experiences' also charge a (smaller) fee for any adults accompanying the children, which I think is deplorable.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
15 Dec 16
$20 is quite the fee for something like that! I can't imagine the expense the individual locations incur, but I don't think I'd want to spend $20 for a picture, gift, and sleigh ride for children. Perhaps a bit of a cheapskate in that way, but $20.00 can add up fast, especially when the average family has three children.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
15 Dec 16
Wow, the kids have fun for sure. I want to play Santa girl giving gifts to kids
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
According to tradition, you would have to be an Elf because Father Christmas can never be female (of course). There are traditions of female gift-givers but they are not so well known. In Italy, they have La Befana who flies on a broomstick on January 6th giving good children small gifts of candy and fruit (and coal, garlic and onions to the bad children!). The trouble with her is that she is never seen, any more than Father Christmas is supposed to be seen on Christmas Eve. In Russia, there is the story of Baboushka (= 'Grandmother'), who, like La Befana, was visited by the Three Kings but declined to go with them to find the Christ Child. When she later decided to follow them, she lost her way and has been searching ever since, giving gifts to children in the hope of finding Jesus.
1 person likes this
In Russia we also have Snegourochka,Father Christmas granddaughter(very pretty young girl) who helps his grandpa to carry gifts for children
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Dec 16
Awwwww! I knew you had been Santa before - seeing the children individually like you said. But yes, I could see how that is completely different from being the party entertainment 
- it's not always pleasing a whole group of kids (an audience of believers and skeptics 
). The wonderful thing is you will have made a lovely Christmas memory for these kids, and parents, for this year . . . Santa made it happen 
!
- it's not always pleasing a whole group of kids (an audience of believers and skeptics ). The wonderful thing is you will have made a lovely Christmas memory for these kids, and parents, for this year . . . Santa made it happen !2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
15 Dec 16
I bet you really enjoy it, after all, it's for the kids and its only once a year
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
@AbbyGreenhill I'm not sure that I should because it would involve other people's children. We always need to be careful about that.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
15 Dec 16
@owlwings Can you post a photo of the big day so we an all appreciate it!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
20 Dec 16
Ah! Kris Kringle is yet another tradition (promulgated by Martin Luther) of the Christ Child as the gift-giver. Luther wanted to bring back the real meaning of Christmas, so he, apparently, introduced the rather delightful tradition of the 'Christkind' who undertakes many of the unseen functions that Father Christmas and the several other Christmas personages perform.
The German tradition came to America with German settlers, of course, and, over time, got corrupted to 'Kris Kringle' and wrongly identified with Father Christmas/Santa Claus.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
@MALUSE I believe that we have the Dutch emigrés to the United States to blame for 'Santa Claus'. They took the tradition of Sinterklaas with them (but left Zwarte Piet behind, it seems) but he got mixed up and re-phantasised by a number of 19th Century writers, acquired some reindeer and was re-located to the North Pole. Coca-cola popularised his red, fur-trimmed cloak and, finally, some department store in the 1950's gave him Rudolf (the reindeer with the shiny nose).
Having been so thoroughly secularised, there is a strong case for a return to the name 'Father Christmas'!
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
15 Dec 16
I think it is great that there are still people like you who continue the tradition and give this magic to children. I wonder for how many more years children will be able to believe that it all relly happens as so many younger parents seem happy once their children are no longer under the spell.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
15 Dec 16
I guess all the kids not only hold you in awe, but think you are an affable old man after you don all the stuff.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Dec 16
Most of the kids are suitably awed (not all, though - I do get some fairly tricky questions like "Are you the real Santa? What about all the others?" and "How do you fit down the chimney?"). Being reasonably affable in real life (most of the time) does help, of course!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
17 Dec 16
@owlwings At that moment,all kids tried to get a word in and wanted to asked you whatever questions about Santa that they had on their little brains,you even didn't know whom to listen to.Anyway they will have fond memories of their time with you.
1 person likes this
My child`s dream
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Dec 16
sounds very schedule oriented and yeah, I can see it being more stressful
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Dec 16
That sounds like a great day for you and the kids.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
15 Dec 16
Glad it went well for you. I used to take my kids to see Santa Claus as well and they loved it.
