When you're a kid time passes slowly. Summers seem to last forever and the school years drags on and on and on. You don't notice it at first but as you age life and the passage of time gets incrementally faster and faster. Maybe it's as simple as finding yourself evermore preoccupied with things you just didn't have to think about in your youth. You get regularly distracted and caught up in daily routine and time seems to become something of an express train.
It seems like only a week or two since we had pleasant summery weather. Now we're deep into the middle of October and those lovely September days and evenings are gone. The mornings can have a chill to them with the unmistakeable promise of more to come.
Last week we went to the local Canadian Tire to look for a new phone extension for downstairs. And while we're there we couldn't help but notice the Halloween offerings for the approaching October 31st evening. But what really caught my attention (aside from not finding a phone we liked) was the Christmas wares being unpacked from skids and boxes and already being mounted on the shelves.
Generally speaking I've long been averse to seeing Christmas stuff before we've even had Halloween, but this year is a bit different perhaps because I have something of a more personal stake in that way of thinking. We might not really think about it but a lot of people are deep into thinking about Christmas and the holidays long before the rest of the public. Retailers make plans long in advance. Catalogues have to be planned and printed. For many cities and communities who have Christmas and/or Santa Claus parades they start planning for the next parade nearly right after the one they've just had. Music artists could well be recording their holiday songs and albums during the summer while the rest of us are soaking up the rays.
For myself this started four years ago. It was sometime in late November or so and we were starting to deco tae the store. At one point I decided to get a little goofy and grabbed some fake snow, stuck in on my face and tucked the ends under my winter cap to hold it in place. I then grabbed by black-and-red checkered winter coat and walked around the store. Some customers smiled and quite a few of my coworkers laughed aloud. When my Operations Manager saw me he nearly spit his lunch across the room trying to choke back his laughter with his mouth full.
But later he approached me and asked me if I'd be willing to play Santa for the store for a few days.
Initially I demurred, but eventually the idea grew on me and I relented. The store popped for a cheap ready made Santa costume and I did my shtick. No one was more surprised than me to discover that not only did I play a pretty good Santa, but that I also enjoyed it immensely. I found that playing Santa allowed me to resurrect much of the childhood wonder for Christmas I thought was lost in youth. I got an enormous kick from being able to make people of all ages smile and laugh. I was able to convey my "spirit of Christmas" in a way own distinctive way. And I had a lot of fun simply from being able to be playful to my heart's content.
When I was a kid a lot of Christmas was wrapped up in receiving gifts. As I aged that aspect faded and I became more focused on other aspects: being home and enjoying the trappings and beauty and sentiments of the holidays. The receiving of gifts didn't really matter anymore. Indeed I got more kick out of planning surprises for others. But playing Santa added a whole other dimension to the holidays I hadn't expected. I was giving a lot of my energy and enthusiasm and imagination to make people happy...and all I hoped for in return was a smile and some laughter.
After that first year in a cheap suit I really felt something might have changed and so the next year I went further and actually created a home crafted custom made Santa costumer. I eschewed the red plush fabric and candy cane shopping mall colours for an old-fashioned looking Santa with a suit made of real garments suitably trimmed. My coat was a second hand woman's winter coat recovered in a rough wool like fabric. The fur trim was fake off-white and long haired. The red was a shade or so darker than the common bright red. The pants were green denim jeans. And the boots were tall camel boots (Ugg style) with the same fake fur trim added. The beard was also the same fur, custom made and with some subtle grey streaks added to it. It certainly wasn't the usual looking Santa, but the performance helped carry it off. t had a blast planning and putting it together and the final results were a hit. After so many years Christmas became really fun again.
The one little snag in that custom made suit was that it was done almost at the last minute and so certain little compromises were inevitable. I was also a bit short on money. Even so I've used it well for three years. But now circumstances are a bit different. I've already began planning ahead. I want to make a new suit and I have a little more money and a lot more time because I'm thinking about it early. This time I want to make it all from scratch, more specifically the coat and hat. I want to keep the shade of I red I used before with my hat and I want a similar rough looking fabric. In the end it will be somewhat more immediately recognizable and familiar while retaining something of a vintage look.
I'm also planning to communicate with some local senior residents in hopes to visit them over the holidays as Santa. If there's one thing I've noticed there are two demographics more than others that Santa makes happy: children and seniors. There is also a local women's shelter that might appreciate a visit. This would be in addition to walking through my neighbourhood and visiting neighbours and local stores and small businesses. Note, too, that the only thing this Santa is peddling is laughter, a joke (usually nice, but sometimes naughty depending on the audience
) and good cheer. This Santa doesn't shill for anyone.
Earlier than expected I find myself really looking forward to this.
It seems like only a week or two since we had pleasant summery weather. Now we're deep into the middle of October and those lovely September days and evenings are gone. The mornings can have a chill to them with the unmistakeable promise of more to come.
Last week we went to the local Canadian Tire to look for a new phone extension for downstairs. And while we're there we couldn't help but notice the Halloween offerings for the approaching October 31st evening. But what really caught my attention (aside from not finding a phone we liked) was the Christmas wares being unpacked from skids and boxes and already being mounted on the shelves.
Generally speaking I've long been averse to seeing Christmas stuff before we've even had Halloween, but this year is a bit different perhaps because I have something of a more personal stake in that way of thinking. We might not really think about it but a lot of people are deep into thinking about Christmas and the holidays long before the rest of the public. Retailers make plans long in advance. Catalogues have to be planned and printed. For many cities and communities who have Christmas and/or Santa Claus parades they start planning for the next parade nearly right after the one they've just had. Music artists could well be recording their holiday songs and albums during the summer while the rest of us are soaking up the rays.
For myself this started four years ago. It was sometime in late November or so and we were starting to deco tae the store. At one point I decided to get a little goofy and grabbed some fake snow, stuck in on my face and tucked the ends under my winter cap to hold it in place. I then grabbed by black-and-red checkered winter coat and walked around the store. Some customers smiled and quite a few of my coworkers laughed aloud. When my Operations Manager saw me he nearly spit his lunch across the room trying to choke back his laughter with his mouth full.
But later he approached me and asked me if I'd be willing to play Santa for the store for a few days.Initially I demurred, but eventually the idea grew on me and I relented. The store popped for a cheap ready made Santa costume and I did my shtick. No one was more surprised than me to discover that not only did I play a pretty good Santa, but that I also enjoyed it immensely. I found that playing Santa allowed me to resurrect much of the childhood wonder for Christmas I thought was lost in youth. I got an enormous kick from being able to make people of all ages smile and laugh. I was able to convey my "spirit of Christmas" in a way own distinctive way. And I had a lot of fun simply from being able to be playful to my heart's content.
When I was a kid a lot of Christmas was wrapped up in receiving gifts. As I aged that aspect faded and I became more focused on other aspects: being home and enjoying the trappings and beauty and sentiments of the holidays. The receiving of gifts didn't really matter anymore. Indeed I got more kick out of planning surprises for others. But playing Santa added a whole other dimension to the holidays I hadn't expected. I was giving a lot of my energy and enthusiasm and imagination to make people happy...and all I hoped for in return was a smile and some laughter.
After that first year in a cheap suit I really felt something might have changed and so the next year I went further and actually created a home crafted custom made Santa costumer. I eschewed the red plush fabric and candy cane shopping mall colours for an old-fashioned looking Santa with a suit made of real garments suitably trimmed. My coat was a second hand woman's winter coat recovered in a rough wool like fabric. The fur trim was fake off-white and long haired. The red was a shade or so darker than the common bright red. The pants were green denim jeans. And the boots were tall camel boots (Ugg style) with the same fake fur trim added. The beard was also the same fur, custom made and with some subtle grey streaks added to it. It certainly wasn't the usual looking Santa, but the performance helped carry it off. t had a blast planning and putting it together and the final results were a hit. After so many years Christmas became really fun again.
The one little snag in that custom made suit was that it was done almost at the last minute and so certain little compromises were inevitable. I was also a bit short on money. Even so I've used it well for three years. But now circumstances are a bit different. I've already began planning ahead. I want to make a new suit and I have a little more money and a lot more time because I'm thinking about it early. This time I want to make it all from scratch, more specifically the coat and hat. I want to keep the shade of I red I used before with my hat and I want a similar rough looking fabric. In the end it will be somewhat more immediately recognizable and familiar while retaining something of a vintage look.
I'm also planning to communicate with some local senior residents in hopes to visit them over the holidays as Santa. If there's one thing I've noticed there are two demographics more than others that Santa makes happy: children and seniors. There is also a local women's shelter that might appreciate a visit. This would be in addition to walking through my neighbourhood and visiting neighbours and local stores and small businesses. Note, too, that the only thing this Santa is peddling is laughter, a joke (usually nice, but sometimes naughty depending on the audience
) and good cheer. This Santa doesn't shill for anyone.Earlier than expected I find myself really looking forward to this.
