‘Santa’s had his ups and downs but in these uncertain times, it seems he’s never been so popular’
North Pole, where he workshop in Lapland.
Saint Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, pawnbrokers, scholars and the little children of Aberdeen, we were told. Annual revelries to celebrate St Nick’s generosity were held right up until spoilsport puritan Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas in 1647 because he felt it was the “heathen’s feasting day”. “How dare he!” bellowed a Santa classmate as we all nodded along in support. “No one can ban Christmas.” Thankfully, set up
aJames informs us, Charles II restored Christmas in 1660.
It is Queen Victoria’s husband Albert who should be thanked for making further embellishments, including introducing the tradition of using decorated fir trees to celebrate Christmas.
“The first time that Santa actually appeared live was at the James Edgar department store in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1890,” James says to cheers of appreciation from his successors. “You have to have your mind shelves packed with magical and jolly things to chat about but you should be ready to be taken off on wild and wonderful tangents,” advises James.
“I also visit some elderly people. One day a lady said to me, ‘You’re not Father Christmas, you’ve got a false beard.’
“I invited her to tug my beard, which she did and she realised it’s my own.
“Then she grinned and said ‘So you are the real Father Christmas after all.’ She was just so happy. That was one of the best moments I’ve had because I’d restored her faith in Father Christmas.
“I can’t see me ever stopping because I enjoy it all too much. It’s by far the best time of the year and we’re just getting started.”
CLOSING the session, James reads the timeless Clement Clarke Moore poem, A Visit from St Nicholas. You could have heard a snowflake drop as he recites the famous verse:
He was chubby right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know there was nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside to his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. James says the magic inspired by that verse is as alive today as it was when the poem was first published in 1823.
The Santa School is enjoying a record number of bookings from would-be Santas and James has about 1,000 on his books.
Past graduates have gone on to work in Harrods and Selfridges department stores.
So Santa Claus has had his ups and downs over the centuries, but in these uncertain times, it seems he’s never been so popular.
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