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Stories with Santa – virtually – from the Library

December 17, 2020   ·   0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield

Being Santa is not a simple matter of a costume, beard and ho-ho-ho. According to Santa, with whom the Citizen had the chance to talk, there is an obligation to honour “the persona.”

For the sake of this interview, while he does have a rest-of-the-year-name, we will only refer to him as Santa. This year, he is sharing recorded Stories every Friday, for two more Fridays in December, shown online from the Orangeville Public Library. The recording takes place at the Mill Street Library, where the real-life readings would be but for the COVID-19 restrictions.

In this case, his beard is real enough that he feels the part all year ’round. A magnificent bush it is too, long and white, above which, swanning over his upper lip, is a fine handle bar moustache, as snowy as the beard. Any child might recognize him at any time of year.

He told the Citizen how it all began for him, initially answering our question, how long have you been Santa? With: “About 400 years! Last year was my 40thseason.”

His story went, “I was an Army Cadette in Oakville and I was instructed to take an officer’s little girl to see Santa. I watched that Santa as he got up to walk around and he turned and addressed me by my name. I was so surprised until I realized he was a security officer at the mall and I thought, ‘I could do that.’

“A few years later, I was working for the same mall and Santa went missing. The management asked me if I could sit in and I said yes. I’ve been doing it every since,” declaring, “If you are Santa, this is a borrowed persona and you have to keep the image clean.”

So strongly does Santa feel about this that he told us, “One time, I used to buy my brother a Playboy calendar and, one year, I started to walk into a store to buy one for him but then I thought – I can’t do this.”

At the beginning of our conversation, we could hear the twitter of birds in the background.

“I have a colony of budgies,” he explained. “I’ve always had them. It was a childhood thing as well. This time, I adopted an elderly dog and there was a group of eight budgies where the dog was and so, I brought them home too. The oddest thing I had was a Toucan – they have to like your kids and the kids like them.”

Until this year, Santa told us, “Ninety percent of the kids probably sit on Santa’s lap. But some are reluctant or parents are overly protective,” He cautioned, “As Santa, you pretty well have to be aware of what’s going on around you. It bothers me when the parents push a reluctant child or forbid one eager to join me. There doesn’t seem to be a happy ground between yes or no.”

Santa commented that because he has such a long history with a lot of people, “I’m offering a little continuity for a few of the families.” He thought about that longevity for a moment and added, “I’ve seen the grandchildren of the children that I used to see.”

Not a fan of online delivery, ever aware of the pitfalls technology can present, he still believes, “If you’re going to be there for the kids, you use what there is. I’ve done this over the phone but everybody needs to see a face. I’ve done Skype for a school and that was fun.”

Going to the library itself to learn more about what is happening there, virtually or otherwise, Lauren Tilly, program and research librarian at Orangeville Library and organizer of the Friday Stories with Santa series, told the Citizen about some of the other programs she and her colleagues work on.

“Much of it is virtual,” she began. “We know it’s on a screen but we promote reading; give out craft kits, which is a paper bag with different craft supplies, This is a give away to coordinate with our virtual story time but you can use them separately. We do a certain number per week. This month, it’s been Christmas and holiday themes.”

To emphasize the secular tone of the bags, “One of our crafts kits is a snow man. It’s just our programming staff that designs these kits, [as do] many other libraries.”

The Ontario Library Associate is a great resource for the swopping of ideas and designs different branches for programming, networking and development.

Although the line up is not necessarily as packed as usual, there are the virtual Stories with Santa.

“My co-worker, Shannon, pre-recorded the stories,” said Tilly.

Not only for children, but for others as well, there are live events though Microsoft Team program, knitting and crocheting, for example.

“We have a story telling series, partnering with Community Living Dufferin (CLD), monthly, last month featuring Heather Hayes, from the Food Bank,” Ms. Tilly continued to say, “These used to be Coffee Conversation and Books. Every month it switched coffee shops, which we couldn’t do this year but we still do it. This month, the virtual local author showcase was artist and author Mark Grice.”

There is also a writers’ open mic with the Headwaters Writers Guild, all kinds of writing, including poetry, and short stories.

“We have kind-of teamed up to do different works for kids – science, technology, engineering, and math as base for workshops. We’re just looking for those opportunities,” she said. “Lots of times, it’s good to work with partners.”

Back to Santa, one might readily wonder what it is like to be Santa.

He answered, “It can be heartbreaking, extremely exhilarating; and can be horrendously sad. Over the years, I’ve met many terminally ill children. They all stay with you.

“It can be really a warning with the kids and you ask them what they want for Christmas and they might say, ‘A coat for my mother.’”

Once in a long while, a child might wish for something so worrying that Santa has asked the organizer what she knew about the family.

“You’ve got to be ready for just about anything,” was his quiet comment.

For such a significant role, when the costume goes on, does one feel different?

The straight answer was, “Yes.”

Saying however, “Because I’ve had some … health issues, sometimes, I don’t feel well but once I get into the character, I seem to find that strength to carry on and I feel: as Santa, you’re there to bring cheer with yourselves.

“I went to see a young girl who was terminally ill and I asked a friend with a farm about bringing a reindeer – when I arrived, there were two reindeer. That sort of thing matters.”

He said, “It means something to keep Santa’s image respectable. No matter what else, I love being Santa.”

For access to see Stories with Santa, go to www.orangevillelibrary.ca You can also check out their social media.


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