Being Santa during the Christmas season can be incredibly rewarding and demanding.   Long lines of children and determined parents, numerous private bookings.   It’s not so jolly a moment when children are crying for their life in fear of the white-bearded stranger.  But, in a perfect scenario, parents walk away with a great picture, kids have the thrill of meeting their first celebrity and Santa has a lifetime memory of his own.  Because as any Santa will tell you, children never cease to surprise them.  With the help of these men who put on the red suit, we’ve compiled a few funny, but more teachable holiday moments. 

Nothing Gets Pass Children

Andy Soileau, a pharmacist in New Iberia, has played Santa since 1976, making appearances at private parties, cub scout events, nursing homes, schools and the New Iberia Christmas parade.  He shares a “chestnut” of his own:

One of the regular customers from his drug store brought her little daughters to see Santa, aka Andy, at another location.  The oldest daughter, very astute, sat on Andy’s lap, and spotted a watch on his wrist that she’d seen Andy wearing many times before when visiting with him at the drug store with her mother.  Andy quickly realized that she’s made the connection between him and the watch and as soon as he returned home, he called his local jeweler and made a special request that a new one be brought to him immediately.  Three hours later when the little girl came to store with her mother, she ran straight to the back room, walked up to Andy and pushed up his sleeve expecting to see the same watch.  She gasped with surprise when the time piece was a different one convincing her that she must have been in the presence of the real Santa.

Santa is Consoling

Jack Barron is in his 27^th year of posing as Santa, eight of those at the Petroleum Club.  In that time, he’s learned that children are fragile, yet resilient, and that there are some things Santa can’t do.  Sometimes children need to feel comfort, if not joy.   

“I’ll never forget this little girl who climbed on my lap and was sitting really close to me,” recalls Jack.  “I could see that she was sad and had been crying.  I tried to lighten her mood by asking, ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ and she responded, ‘I want my father to come home.’  Not knowing the back story, I explained that things happen and there are reasons and we don’t always understand them, but that I love her and her family loves her.  As soon as she stood up and left, someone knowing her family told me that her dad had died in a salt mine accident that day.”

Jack has also learned that Santa has to often improvise, like he did the time he was at a daycare posing for photos with the children and handing out gifts.  The kids were sitting on the floor, tearing into their presents brought by the parents when all of a sudden, a little blonde-haired boy stands up, with one hand on his hip and the other holding a toy, and yells, “Santa, where’s the batteries?”  “I guess Rudolph forgot to put the batteries in the package,” he replied.

Santa Inspires Romance

Danny Guidry has been Santa at Acadian Village for three years.  An employee of Halliburton and an 11-year cancer survivor, he BELIEVES.

Even adults have surprised him.  Last year, an 18-year-old woman sat on Danny’s lap for a photo with her boyfriend.  When the young man came from behind to stand next to her, he suddenly dropped to his knees and proposed with ring in hand- to the surprise of everyone, including Santa.

The Heart of a Santa

One very busy Santa preferred to remain anonymous and in character, but shared the story that he and his wife will forever remember each Christmas.

A boy, about 9 years old, arrived with his mother and younger sister at a bank where this Santa was greeting children.  “When he came to me,” says Santa, “the first thing he did was ask his mother and sister to go outside so he could speak privately.  He told me he didn’t want anything for himself.  Instead, he handed me and my wife (who was Mrs. Clause) each a $5 bill and asked that we give the money to a kid who needed it more than he did.  Hard as we tried, we could not give that money back to the boy.  He would not have it.  So, we went to a restaurant we frequented and gave it as a tip to a waitress who we knew had children and was struggling to make ends meet.”

Peace on Earth

Known as Cajun Santa, Ronnie Louviere has enjoyed being Santa for five years and has been reminded of what is really important in life by some of the children he’s met, like the 15-year-old girl who was mentally challenged but gifted in other ways.  Ronnie recalls, “When I asked what she wanted for Christmas, she said, ‘Nothing for me.  I want peace throughout the world – no more arguing or wars.’  Before she walked away, I added, ‘It would really be nice if everyone believed in Jesus Christ;’ and I’ll never forget how she smiled and hugged me one last time.”

Ronnie remembers a lesson in selflessness when an organization held a Christmas event for homeless children at a skating rink.  “One of the first children to come through the doors was a 4-year-old boy who ran up to me the minute he walked in, jumped in my lap and gave me a big hug.  During the course of the evening, he came up to me two or three more times.  Toys had been bought beforehand based on the gender name of the child picked and this little boy’s name could be a girl’s name.  So, when he opened his presents, they were all girls’ toys.  He never complained, just smiled and accepted them happily.  Just when I thought how was impressive that was, some of the other boys each gave him one of their toys.”

Santa is Humbled

For Dan Doerle, Mayor Pro tem of New Iberia, the one-time experience of being Santa in the New Iberia Christmas parade two years ago brought unexpected feelings. “It was the most emotional thing I’ve ever done and I’m not sure I could ever do it again,” he admits.  “The last float in the parade is Santa’s sleigh; I’m sitting 10 feet up, with children waving and screaming “Santa!” while running behind the float.  I wasn’t prepared to be treated like some sort of royalty. The parade ended at Bouligny Plaza where they lined up to see me and I could tell in their eyes they believed that I was someone important.  The responsibility to live up to that was overwhelming.  Their honesty surprised me – fast admitting if they argued with their brother or sister.  And, I was humbled by their modest requests, asking for one or two conventional things.  Boys wanted a truck or car and girls asked for a doll – nothing more.  What finally did me in was one little girl who asked for a Christmas tree.  With the help of a charitable organization, her wish was granted – and my respect and understanding for Santa’s job was elevated to new heights.”