Professionals can earn up to $500 an hour, but students at this Santa bootcamp say the real reward is still the Christmas spirit of hope and generosity.
TEMPE, Ariz.—One Christmas shopping season, a young boy sat on Tim Connaghan’s lap and asked Santa for a very special gift: To bring his mother back from heaven.
Connaghan paused, searching for the right words. With gentle care, he leaned in and told the boy that even Santa could not do everything.
Santa’s abilities were limited to creating toys—but he could also pray for his mother.
The boy nodded.
Being Santa is not always fun or easy, says Connaghan.
“You’ve got to be ready for what happens,” he said, adding that becoming the best Santa is essential, meaningful, and most importantly, “magical.”
Connaghan has been teaching that magic for the last two decades to dozens of people each year who wish to join the ranks of the nation’s thousands of professional Santas.
His school—the International University of Santa Claus, also known as School4Santas—has taught more than 5,000 Santas over the last 23 years.
During the Christmas holiday season, shopping malls belong to old Saint Nick, company parties flow with the holiday spirit, and special events provide significant earnings for professional Santas.
But for Connaghan, the lesson season begins in the spring.
The Epoch Times joined his first lesson of the year in Tempe, Arizona, on May 3.
His students included more than two dozen professional Santas and those soon to enter the profession, hailing from Arizona, California, Idaho, and Utah.
They donned red hats and long white beards and shared a fervent desire to excel in their craft.
The real Santa will shine through, Connaghan told the class, and children are the best judges of character: “So give me a ho!”
“Ho!”
“Give me ho-ho!”
“Ho-ho!”
“Give me a ho-ho-ho!”
“Ho-ho-ho!”
Thus began the all-day class covering various textbook and anecdotal topics, including the historic origins of Santa Claus, how Santa should dress and behave in the 21st century, and how to manage children and parents—as his work never ends and is constantly evolving.
Connaghan said being Santa requires a lot of energy, dedication, mental focus, and the ability to communicate and handle stressful situations.
After all, children are in charge, and not every boss is easy to work with.
“It is a conversation. It’s not one-way,” Connaghan said.
“Act like Santa is a rock star—you are a rock star. You are one of the most important people they have ever met.”
Every year, Connaghan, 76, travels the world to teach others not only how to play Santa, but also how to embody the spirit of Kris Kringle in every way.
By Allan Stein
