The story posted above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment, hosted by Lori Walsh.
From how Thor's eight-legged horse became eight tiny reindeer, to a family tragedy that inspired humble acts of generosity, Sioux Falls Santa shares holiday stories to warm the coldest South Dakota winter. We also hear from some children about the joy of presents this season.
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Lori Walsh:
Listen, I met this man the other day. He had a red suit and a white beard, black boots, kind of rosy cheeks. He looked like he knew his way around a plate of cookies. He was at this store in Sioux Falls called Color Me Mine and families were gathered around tables. They were painting ceramic snowflakes and occasionally, they burst into Christmas song altogether. I thought I'd better find out what was up. Because I'm a journalist. Hi Santa.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Hello, how are you?
Lori Walsh:
I'm Lori Walsh.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Yes.
Lori Walsh:
I work for South Dakota Public Radio.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Yes.
Lori Walsh:
Can I ask you a few questions?
Sioux Falls Santa:
You certainly can.
Lori Walsh:
I'm pretty sure Santa knew who I was before I turned on that microphone. That's a good sign, I think.
Sioux Falls Santa:
My favorite food? Whatever sitting in front of me. Does it look like I'm fussy? Sushi and, oh my goodness, steaks.
Lori Walsh:
This is Sioux Falls Santa. He has a background in behavioral health. I happen to know he is really good at needle pointing. He has been to Santa school and he really knows his Santa Claus history.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Soup, all of those kind of things. And Santa is defined by the culture too. We have to realize that because initially the first Santa that was drawn was drawn by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly, and it was a time when there was war and conflict, and so Santa was painted with a blue coat, white stars and red striped pants. So then sometime later, then this was never supposed to have been published, but Clement Moore, and there's a question whether it was actually him, but Clement Moore wrote the story, 'Twas the night before Christmas, all through the house and all the so on.
And he goes in there and describes Santa as, "He's dressed from head to toe in fur." At the time he wrote this, it was a time of fur trading, so that's how it influenced him. But then early 1900s, 1930ish, then Coca-Cola decided they wanted to use Santa for advertising. So they hired a commercial artist from Chicago, Haddon Sundblom, to design a Santa for them. Well, if you see that Santa, that Santa has no fur on his coat. He has buttons. So the whole concept has changed who he is.
Lori Walsh:
Now, I am not the only one who had questions for the man in the red suit that day.
Evan:
I'm Evan, eight.
Lori Walsh:
What did you want to ask him?
Evan:
Favorite color and food was?
Lori Walsh:
What did he say was his favorite food?
Evan:
Anything in front of him. What I love about Christmas is the joy of Christmas.
Lori Walsh:
Christmas joy sometimes comes in the form of presents.
Zara:
My name is Zara and I'm six. Z-A-R-A.
Lori Walsh:
What does Zara want for Christmas?
Zara:
Two stockings that the fox and a penguin that are babies.
Nora:
I'm Nora.
Lori Walsh:
That's Nora.
Nora:
A new little blankie.
Lori Walsh:
I'm pretty sure she's going to get a new blankie. Well, I wanted to know a little bit more about one of my favorite Christmas friends, the reindeer.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Thor rides through the sky on an eight legged horse. So if you look at Clement Moore's 'Twas the night before Christmas, how many reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen. Thunder and lightning from German, and so the eight-legged horse turns into eight reindeer. Okay, now who can count to three?
Group:
One, two, three.
Sioux Falls Santa:
All right.
Lori Walsh:
Here's another important point. Sioux Falls Santa will never make you sit on his lap. You can just stand nearby him if you like, or watch from far away. He doesn't like it when grownups tell kids they have to sit on Santa's lap. He really doesn't like it when grownups threaten kids by withholding presents. He doesn't like that at all, and most kids really like Sioux Falls Santa. But sometimes, the stories they tell him are kind of sad.
Sioux Falls Santa:
So every once in a while, you get a sad one. I had a girl one time who I asked, "What would you like for Christmas?" And she said, "I just want my daddy to love me." Breaks your heart, and that child needs as much love as you could give and encouragement in their life. So when I can encourage, that's what I'm here for.
Lori Walsh:
Now, most people knew about Nicholas, Saint Nicholas. He was a real man and his story was kind of sad too. Maybe this rings a bell.
Sioux Falls Santa:
Nicholas was 16 years old when his parents died. He had a huge fortune. His parents were merchants. They died of the plague. He decided to live his life out. He then went to live with his uncle who was a priest, and he decided that fortune would be dealt out by the scripture, Matthew 6:1-4, which talks about, "Let your giving be done in secret," which, when does Santa come to deliver presents? So from that, we still carry that through today.
Lori Walsh:
So here's to cookies and ceramic snowflakes painted in seven shades of blue. Here's to kindness and imagination, wonder, and that little bit of magic that helps us all keep believing for one more year. (singing).
Sioux Falls Santa:
Good job.
