This man, however, isn’t your average actor in a suit. He’s an official member of ClausNet, the worldwide network of Santa Clauses, and he holds an Associate of Arts in Santa Clausology from the International University of Santa Claus!
It’s this training that allows him to bond with the countless children he meets every year. Not wishing to spoil the Christmas magic by revealing his true identity, he has asked to be called “Rudolph”, after Santa’s favourite reindeer.
“A lot of them like to ask me, ‘Are you the real Santa Claus?’ And I turn it around on them. I ask them, ‘Are you the real you?’” Rudolph told FMT Lifestyle with a laugh.
“And I say, if you are the real you, then I must be the real Santa Claus!”
He has ho-ho-ho’ed and spread cheer in many malls around the Klang Valley and Penang over the last two decades; this year, he’s at Pavilion Mall here. Seeing the excitement on people’s faces when they spot him is the best part of the job, he said.
Some people think Santa Claus only works one month a year, but for him, preparations begin six months before Christmas. This mostly involves getting his suits (he has 21 of them!) cleaned and ready for wear.
He also has a library of Santa Claus films, which he watches to properly put himself in the shoes (or boots) of the beloved Christmas icon. His favourites include “The Santa Clause”, “Santa and Pete”, and “Miracle on 34th Street”.
Amazingly, he never planned to jingle bells like this: in fact, he was forced into it. In 1998, his mother was involved in planning a children’s Christmas party and needed someone to play good ol’ St Nick. She begged her son to do it as he had the right height and size.
Despite initial reluctance, he agreed: he wore a borrowed suit and rang an ice cream bell so vigorously, its clapper fell off.
Not quite a great start to his Santa Claus career – but the children at the party didn’t mind at all. He said they stared at him, entranced, and at that moment, the magic of Christmas struck him.
“The very next year, when they had another Christmas party, I volunteered to play Santa,” he said.
Thus began an annual Christmas tradition, and he later learnt it was possible to become a professional Santa Claus, with international qualifications.
So, he learnt the trade under the guidance of Victor Nevada, a master from Canada. It was Nevada who dubbed him Santa Claus’ regional representative from Penang.
“He taught me about being Santa Claus. That it’s all about being yourself; you’re not an actor putting up a performance. In the suit, you are a father figure, the man of the house,” he said.
Being Santa Claus has its challenges: the demands of the role mean he hasn’t celebrated a Christmas at home with his family in years.
And while a bushy white beard and thick red suit is comfortable in the North Pole, it is awfully hot wearing it in Malaysia. He, however, takes all this in stride.
Rudolph recalls one Christmas when a child requested for a rather bittersweet gift. “He asked if I could bring his mother back from heaven. It was a tough question. I said I couldn’t bring her back, but she can live in your heart forever. I hope that answer helped him.”
Crowds can also get unruly at times, he said; fortunately, he is experienced with them, thanks to his training. According to Rudolph, this is why it is always better to get an official Santa Claus to play the jolly old man.
“That’s really the magic of Santa. Adults don’t act childish; they become childlike again,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“And that’s beautiful. It’s so nice to see people happy. I love bringing joy and happiness to people. It’s the best job in the world.”