Message from Santa

A message from Santa on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/storytellingsanta/videos/971212116247808/

From Santa's Journal

There are moments we who are storytellers, we who don the Red Suit are touched by. There are moments we never forget. Standing in front of hundreds of children, dozens of children or just around a campfire and tell stories to make kids laugh or making them jump with a sort of scary story is great fun. to have boys and girls say, "that was so cool, Mr. Storyteller" is rewarding enough.
But donning the Red Suit, that is different. All storytellers have magic moments. Moments when the audience breathes as one. Moments where time is suspended and not one sound is heard other than the storyteller's voice.

There are other moments that are more than magic. Moments when you are humbled. Moments when tears well up in the corners of your eyes, to be wiped away by the white gloves you wear with your Red Suit.

Moments like this one in the photo from Storytelling Santa's friend Jenny Daws. A hushed moment as a Mama and Daddy push a wheelchair up and gently lift a frail little angel out and carefully place her in Santa's arms. Santa moves around in his chair so his shoulder supports the head of the little angel, her eyes closed, not moving at all. She is aware something, someone is different and her face shows concern, but Santa whispers to her and she relaxes. He continues to talk with her in whispers the whole time, lost in that place, just Santa and the angel. He forgets the photographer, forgets to look at the camera. He pushes his beard back so it doesn't tickle her face and he whispers and softly sings a Christmas carol.
The photographer takes their photo and the parents thank Santa. He thanks them for sharing that moment with him... a beggar in a red suit. There are more kids, some hurting, some barely aware, some smiling and excited. They are all someone's baby, someone's promise. A treasure in a little package.

Oh my, they break your heart when the only thing they ask for is "just one more Christmas with my whole family". Or the little girl who asked, "Can you bring my Daddy home from Afghanistan?"
"I miss my Grandma in Heaven. Can you tell her I love her?" "Santa, I wish my Mommy and Daddy would stop hollering at each other." 

They don't always ask for toys, you see.

They Believe. They are filled with hope and joy and wonderment.
And then, Santa's mind is drawn back a year or two, an evening visit in a community building, sponsored by a local church. Dozens and dozens of little ones have sat on Santa's lap. He recited "The Night Before Christmas" and many of them joined in as he spoke those magical words.

Just before Santa is to leave a disheveled mother comes in, hair a mess, clothes not clean, disoriented (someone whispers she smokes crack all the time). She asks if there is still time for her three little children to see Santa. All are under 10.

Of course there is time. This night Santa has all the time in the world. The children don't ask for I-pads, cell phones, Transformers, baby dolls or even Legos. They ask for socks, a robe, a new shirt no one has ever worn.

Did you hear me? A new shirt no one has ever worn. That is his Christmas wish.

And the last of the three, a little girl about 6 or 7 sits on Santa's lap as Church Folks find food, bags of cookies and hot chocolate for the other two. This little sweetheart in clothes that don't fit is so happy to sit on Santa's lap.(and her clothes have not been washed, which angers and saddens at the same time). She just sits there and leans in to his chest for a minute.

Santa's lap is a "safe place", you see. She leans against the Red Suit, content and safe. 

Finally she gets down to business... "Now, what would you like for Christmas?" Santa asks.

"I don't know, Santa. (she pauses) Maybe, if it would be alright, a Toy? Just a Toy?" Her ask is a question, a plea, a dream that her crack ridden mother will not, cannot fulfill. Unless someone else finds the way to their door all the extra money will go up in the smoke of a crack pipe.

Her eyes plead as she looks into Santa's eyes and asks for a toy, a single toy. Santa wonders how long it has been since she had a toy?
What do you say? What would you say? Santa never promises anything, of course. He listens, hugs and gives them candy canes. He has no real magic. He has no toys to hand out. He has only peppermint candy canes.

He is just a beggar in a red suit. A myth brought to life for a moment in time. Nobody important. Just a pretend.
Oh, that his red toy sack was everlastingly full of toys. If only he could fly with his reindeer to a workshop at the North Pole and bring a toy to every little one, food for hungry bellies of children everywhere.

Buy, you see... he depends on me, on you.
There weren't any toys in Santa's vehicle that night. From that day till this Santa always has Teddy Bears hidden in his truck, ready for occasions where he knows a little one needs a bear to hug.

He, like others, tries, not always successfully, to wear the mantle of Saint Nicholas of Myra (in modern day Turkey), the first Santa. As he leaves Storytelling Santa often lifts families, children that sat on his lap in prayer. 

For that is the only gift he can truly give.

Storytelling Santa at the Special Wish Open House

Storytelling Santa spent the evening two weeks ago at the Special Wish Foundation. He has been the Special Wish Santa for several years and their event is usually the kickoff to his season.

You can invite Storytelling Santa to your home, corporate event, school or business this year by calling his "scheduling Elf" - Stephen Hollen at 937-371-4071

Invite Santa to your home this year

Imagine the surprise on the faces of your little ones as they open the door and find Storytelling Santa standing there, waiting to greet them!

Yep, he is available to visit your home this Christmas Season and bring a little Christmas Magic to you and yours. 

The rest of the year he is a full time storyteller (and believe it or not, a Mark Twain Impersonator). He works with children at schools, libraries, festivals and other events year round, so has years of experience talking to and listening to kids.

He has a background check done by the Greene County Ohio Sheriff's Department (and recommends ANY Santa you hire has such) and can provide references.

In addition to being the Special Wish Foundation's Santa, he is also Santa for Bellbrook, Ohio's Festival in the Park, Sycamore Creek Country Club, Country Club of the North, and several schools in the area.

Give him a call at 937-371-4071 to schedule your event.

Invite Santa to your Holiday Event

Maybe it is the infectious "Ho Ho Ho" that quickly turns into laughter, or the eyes that are always smiling.  It could be the ears that always listen to the little ones...



Yes, it could be that beautiful custom made suit, the real leather boots and belt, that big brass belt buckle.

Maybe even how Storytelling Santa makes noses glow magically - just like Rudolph's, or that BIG RED Naughty or Nice Book...

Perhaps it is what others have said, like Brenda W. who said, "Storytelling Santa has the most amazing look.  He stepped out of storybooks and into our home last year!"...

Most likely it is that Storytelling Santa shows the Spirit of Christmas to every little one he sees.  Every child knows that the REAL Santa listens to them, cares about them as he visits!  that is why Storytelling Santa is the BEST SANTA around!

Give Storytelling Santa a call at 937-371-4071 or e-mail him at Santa@Storytelling Santa.com to schedule your visit!

Dreams of Christmas

Imagine...
Family gathered, laughing, talking, enjoying the Christmas spirit.
Little ones playing, dressed in their Holiday best, reds, greens, black and whites
Crisp and carefully pressed.  Occasionally they sneak a peak at the cookies and candies
Laying about in decorative bowls and plates.  All eyes are open, ears alert and anxious
Then the knock at your door everyone was anticipating.
Everything changes, each child's eyes grow bigger by the second
Though they are not sure, something tells them this is a special visitor.
The door is opened slowly and each little face pushes close for a peek.
There... right in the doorway HE stands!  HE came to MY home!
Slowly, with a Ho Ho Ho, Storytelling Santa steps into the room
The cold of the Arctic curling around him, bringing hints
Of dreams, of peppermint, hot chocolate... and cookies
He is full of stories, of laughter, of smiles and good cheer
As each little one climbs onto his knee,
Each suddenly bashful and awkward teenager
Dutifully takes their place beside him, He listens, 
Somehow knowing that they have been...
Good!

Invite Storytelling Santa to your event this year.  Call him at 937-371-4071 or send an e-mail: santa@storytellingsanta.com



copyright 2011 Storytelling Santa - Story Mill Press

Santa is ready to visit You

Santa is so busy these days, making lists, checking them twice.  Elves are beginning to worry that we will not be ready for that wonderful Christmas Eve ride.  Mrs. Claus frets that Santa won't fit into his red suit this year.


Reindeer are running and taking test jumps, jumping over barns, the workshop, dancing on the winds and eager to step into their harnesses and fly.


There are so many stories about Christmas and Santa.  You can invite Storytelling Santa to your home or event!  Give him a call or e-mail him at santa@storytellingsanta.com!