(Santa Lenny) Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!

Santa loves you no matter what you do.

I have no children on the naughty list.

-No children on the--?

-No children.

I just have some good children that sometimes they make a bad choice.

(narrator) At this magical time of year, there is a very special person in the center of it all, bringing special memories to adults and children.

(uplifting holiday music) Where's Rudolph when you need him?

(Santa Lenny) Being Santa, to me, is the epitome of doing for others.

Hi, little one!

(indistinct remarks) (Santa Rick) The best thing about being Santa, I think, is the fact that the kids, they all love you.

It makes everybody smile as soon as you walk up.

You're like the super grandparent.

-Thank you.

-Oh, ho-ho-ho-ho.

That was a good hug.

(Nikki) It's like--it's just fun.

It's--it's a fun time of year.

It's--it's a time when it's not about the packages.

(Santa Carl) It's when--it's what's in your heart.

(Nikki) Yeah.

(Santa Rick) People walk up to you, they hug you, they kiss you, they tell you their deepest secrets.

You didn't wanna look at me, and now you gave me a hug.

You know what that's like?

That's like we're old friends.

Santa helps you create memories.

♪ (narrator) But how has one of the most famous faces in history managed to remain anonymous all these years?

Easy.

He enlists the help of decoy Santas, hundreds of them, which is where the Northern Lights Santa Academy comes in.

(wondrous music) (Santas ho-ho-ho-ing, greeting) ♪ (indistinct remarks) ♪ (applauding and cheering) ♪ (narrator) We have been informed by the elves that the real Santa is amongst the Santas here at Santa School.

He's here to teach everyone to be just like him.

We are, of course, under strict instructions not to disclose his real identity, but can you guess who it is?

♪ (Santa Rick) Hello, everybody, I'm back.

Sorry to blow your ears out, I didn't realize this was on.

Um, again, sit with different people, get to know each other.

It's a great opportunity.

There's some amazing talents here.

So, it's not just your Santa talent, it is your personal talent.

My name is Santa Rick, and I'm from the North Pole, but I was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Santa industry in America is over 200 years old, and basically anybody with a red suit, even a gray or yellow beard, could be Santa.

I've been at this 50 years, this is my 51st year, and so I was one of those guys in a red suit.

I think I did a pretty good job.

I was a trained actor, and I also am very outgoing, and gregarious, and animated, but the Santa industry needed to really be developed.

So, my wife Tracy and I developed the Northern Lights Santa Academy to simply help Santas be the best they could be, and to raise the bar in the industry.

(Tracy) Well, we started in 2016 with about 65 students, and it really took off in 2017.

The second half of 2017, we had over 100 students, and it's just grown since then, so we range anywhere from 100 to 150 per session, which is really large for a Santa School.

(Santa Rick) You have seasoned Santas, some of 'em have been around decades, and you have brand new Santas who have never been Santa, and so we need to teach them all at their level.

This is the first time at any school, any academy, so it's a great learning experience.

This is my 20th season, and I have never stopped learning.

I always just aspire to be the best Santa I can be.

I'm here today to learn, 'cause I'm a newbie, and I want to be a good Santa.

(narrator) As the school gets underway, let's look at some of the people who have attended.

They're all here with one mission: To help Santa remain anonymous, and be just like him.

-I'm Santa Perry Westmoreland.

-And Darlene Westmoreland.

I am from the North Pole.

(chuckling) (quirky music) ♪ (a Santa) Well, we get tired of being cold, you know, so we had to come visit Georgia.

♪ (Santa Carl) We got here yesterday afternoon, helped set up.

Last night was movie night.

We sat and enjoyed The Santa Clause.

-That was a lot fun -That was fun.

That was fun, laughing and joking.

(a Santa) I'm a big kid myself, I never really grew up.

I went over to give my--my Santa a big old smooch.

(a Santa) We are repeat offenders at the Northern Lights Santa Academy, this is my fourth time and her second time.

(bell ringing) (a Santa) Hey, we look forward to buying new things from the vendors.

(Nikki) I've been eyeing a tumbler that, um, is, like, glitter green on the bottom, and then white on top, and it says, "Elf."

(Becki) I'm all set up for my Stories Galore workshop that's coming after lunch.

(Santa Lenny) And I'm sure you'll see her in there.

(Becki) And running around with Tracy and Rick.

♪ -You got the ho-ho.

-I got the ho-ho?

-I got the he-he-he-he-he.

-Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho.

(a Santa) Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!

Merry Christmas.

(narrator) First up on Santa's list of "How to Become the Perfect Santa" is knowing who you are.

You know all about you, don't you?

You lived your life, didn't you?

And in your life you learned about other things, like in school you probably learned there was a-- a French Revolution.

You probably learned Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, but you weren't there.

But Santa was alive then.

Critical, 'cause you have to be understood and logical to be believable.

How many of you people are here?

(man) All of us.

(overlapping remarks) (speaker) Why am I here?

'Cause you guys wanted to learn something from me?

-Yep.

-And I wanted to learn something from you.

I'm working right now on becoming a professional Christmas entertainer, but not just a, an extraordinary Christmas entertainer, and so the things that I do and the things that you do when you come to classes like this is learn how to step it up a little bit.

Whatever-- whatever level you are in your entertainment ability, you can always do a little bit more.

Become prepared, prepared by knowing who you are.

(narrator) A regular visitor to Santa School is Santa Lenny.

He lives in Shelburne Falls in Massachusetts with his wife, Becki.

(Becki) Good morning, how are you?

Welcome!

Come on in.

My name is Santa Claus, AKA Lenny Stratton.

I originally came from Illinois, but I was in the Navy, I was stationed in Boston when the shipyard was open, and I met this beautiful lady, and here I am at the North Pole, Shelburne Falls, with my wife, Rebecca.

(Becki) This is our gingerbread kitchen, and I used to put it away, but now I leave it gingerbready all year long, so that we can enjoy it, except for the dusting, I do have to dust it.

But come on in, we'll show you the rest of the house, we'll do a little tour.

This is our dining area.

We have Santa and our toy soldier to keep us company.

So, this is Santa's den, where we've collected a lot of different Santas, and a lot of different things.

Many of them are animated.

Many of them sing.

(object ringing) (animatronic gingerbread man) ♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪ ♪ Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la ♪ (narrator) Santa Lenny has been a professional Santa for seven years.

He's been building a grotto in his garden for the local community.

(cheerful music) ♪ (Santa Lenny) Why did I go to Santa School?

Because I felt like I didn't really know the whole aspect of being Santa.

Of-- It was amazing what you can learn from an experienced Santa of, like, 40 years, you know, compared to what you just had for 6 months.

♪ (Becki) I have this little room where I try to keep things that I'm gonna need, all my craft projects, and things that I'm gonna need for Mrs. Claus, and so I have it all sorted.

Gingerbread projects, and foam, stickers, and my little bendies, and bows, and books, and all kinds of things.

Today we went to visit my friend, Meg.

(Meg) We're very-- we're very high tech here.

(Becki) That's very cool.

And she has been a friend for a very long time, and she is an incredible seamstress.

She sews beautifully, and she has agreed to make outfits for us.

And she's very, very excited to be sewing for Santa.

-Group hug.

-You're welcome.

-You too, you guys are the best.

-Thank you.

(Santa Lenny) And once you put on the good suit and the red hat, it all changes.

It's like Superman going into the phone booth.

(chuckling) (upbeat music) ♪ (narrator) And that beautiful fashion show brings us nicely to number two on the perfect Santa list: Santa Fashion 101.

All right, so we're gonna go ahead and talk about Santa Fashion 101.

Particular one is called a traditional suit.

It's traditional because the actual fur goes straight down the front, and it's also squared off.

Another example of a traditional suit.

This would be classified as traditional as well.

The difference is this has a flare to it.

It has a curvature like Bing Crosby in White Christmas.

Dennis Johnson, I'm gonna have you stand up real quick.

This is a waistcoat that we did for him with his shirt.

Then, there's another coat I'm gonna show you.

It's lined in green, but it has--has what's called bell sleeves.

Bell sleeves are wider, they're bigger, okay, and they're for parades, more or less, so you can wave and, "Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho.

Merry Christmas, everybody!"

Part of this whole school is to teach you to become your own Santa, who you wanna be, what you wanna say.

Your imagination is unlimited, that's the most important thing.

I'm gonna have you try that one on.

-Yep.

-There you go.

The shawl will probably be a little bit less fur than this, not much, but just like maybe another inch in.

It's gonna even have more of a tapered look to it, so it looks like a set of penguin tails.

(chuckling) (Santa Magic) I am Larry Talbert, I am from Statham, Georgia, just outside of Athens, Georgia--go, Dogs!

And, uh, I am known as Santa Magic.

I've been doing this for four years.

My wife told me 10 years ago that I needed to become Santa when she went to the mall and she saw the Santa there, and she said, "When you retire, I'm farming you out."

And then I had a gentleman come to me by the name of Santa Rick Rosenthal, and, uh, he told me I needed to be Santa.

I turned around and told him that I know who he is, I know what he does, I'm just not really-- I don't know how to be him.

And he said, "Well, that's the reason you go to Santa School."

They teach me how to be a better Santa, and how to handle different situations when I'm involved as Santa.

The magic business came out of being Santa.

So, I am, like I said, I'm known as Santa Magic.

I developed a book called 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Magical Presentation.

Well, this book was made by the elves up in the North Pole.

It's a brand new book, brand new artwork.

It's amazing.

The children all love it.

If you take a quick gander at it, you're gonna love these pictures.

Oh, my goodness, they're just absolutely gorgeous.

Aren't--isn't that pretty?

Now--wait, I'm sorry.

You--you know, I--I see what the problem is.

This is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Magical Presentation, so you have to think of the words.

"'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

And there, all the words appear.

Isn't that amazing?

Yes, it is, but I-- I need pictures when I'm gonna do a story.

I like to see what it looks like all through the book, not just on the cover.

So, if you help me a little bit, and you imagine what it looks like all through the book with all the colors and pictures.

Are you doing that?

If you are, then it's time for all the pictures to appear.

Isn't that amazing?

My 12-year-old was watching what I was doing, and he said, "Dad," he said, "I wanna be in business."

I said, "Well, what is it you wanna do?"

He said, "I wanna help you with what you're doing."

I said, "Okay, but I've already got this-- this Christmas thing kinda tied down."

I said, "What else would you do?"

He said, "Let's--let's do magic for other people."

So, we started, uh, coming up with other products.

My role is to make sure all the stock is there, and then, like, when we go out to, like, Santa School, and then I get to show, which is pretty fun.

My favorite trick is probably the thumbs, just because it's fun to play with them, stick it up your nose, take it out of your ear, eat it.

Yeah, it's--it's really fun.

These are the light switches, I just take out my ear, and eat it.

It's as easy as that.

(cheerful music) Mm.

♪ Surprisingly, that taste is good.

Very nice, very nice, very nice list.

What about Santa Larry?

Santa Larry's kinda been on the naughty list.

(laughing) I don't know, what are we gonna do?

(chuckling) Just as a nice thought is, "Grandpa is always on the naughty list."

(narrator) In a mall or during a home visit, it is often necessary for Santas to have a few magic tricks up their sleeves to entertain the children.

I have no plan of what I'm doing.

The children dictate what's gonna happen, okay?

Now, y'all have been trying to get somebody to smile, and the one boy, he's sitting there going, he ain't gonna smile for mom at all.

(fart noises playing) Hear that?

I always--behind my chair.

He ain't smiling... ...right in his ear.

He smiles every time.

I've never seen a boy who won't smile for a good fart.

(laughing) Works.

Works.

(applause) And you do need to know a little bit of sign language being a mall Santa, 'cause you are gonna get a deaf child, you know?

You don't need to know much.

I don't know sign language, you know?

But I know, "What you want for Christmas?"

It's just, "you," "want," "Christmas."

Easy.

(narrator) An important part of being a Santa is recognizing the responsibility of being a Santa for all, and to have the training necessary to ensure -this inclusivity.

-I am an instructor, and I'm teaching Santas how to communicate with deaf children.

It's not a hard thing to do.

If I can teach the Santas here just a few signs to use when they meet a deaf child, that will make all the difference in the world -for that child.

-And like I said, I don't speak sign language, but as soon as you try, they get excited and they start going crazy.

They're going--you gotta go, "Slow down, slow down."

That's what this means: Slow down.

You know, so, but learn a little bit, because it's gonna happen at a mall setting for sure.

Two together, "Merry Christmas."

"Santa," you could do it this way, or this way, and then, "Happy."

"Happy, happy, happy."

(narrator) One of the most recognizable traits of Santa is his beard.

But what exactly does it take to have the perfect beard?

So, my name is Missy Boggs, I am from Marietta, Georgia, and I'm here today at Northern Lights Santa Academy to learn more about the Santa world, and about being Mrs. Claus, and I'm also an instructor here at the school, and I will be teaching how to whiten hair.

I've been doing hair for 35 years, and I've been doing Santa hair for three years, and I got started doing Santa because my husband became a Santa Claus, and we had to find a safe way to whiten his hair.

This is--Doug, raise your hand-- this is my husband, Doug.

(chuckling) We, uh--we just bleached his hair last Saturday.

Uh, between Mandy and I, we do about 30 or 40 Santas each year.

We have a handful that keep up their--their-- the color of their beard and everything all year long, but the majority of 'em just do it during the season.

We use bleach, straight-up bleach.

We put a lot of, uh--we put a lot of other ingredients in it to help--to help buffer it down so that it doesn't burn their skin.

But--but, basically we're using a cream-- an oil cream bleach mixed with a developer, which is an enzyme developer, and that's really what helps to, uh, protect their skin from burning, and, um, getting blisters and sores on it, especially when you're dealing with the-- the skin on the face.

He's got, like, a big old cigar sticking out of his mouth.

(Santa Rick) He's Cuban, he can do that.

(narrator) So, does Santa's beard have to be as white as snow?

(Missy) Rick is gonna shoot me when I answer this question.

Rick--Rick is of the belief that Santa needs to be just as white as white can be.

I think there are Santas out there who are very, very gray, that they look fantastic with their beard the way that it is.

I mean, look at what we're doing, look at what these guys have to go through.

They're breathing through a straw.

They've got, you know, look-- they're covered with bags.

We cover their face with a bag, we cover their hair with a bag.

We put 'em under the dryer.

I mean, if you're claustrophobic, this is not for you.

Getting almost completely white.

What do you think next year we stop bleaching your beard for a while, and see what happens?

-Okay.

-And maybe just do the whitening stuff on your beard?

-Okay.

-Your moustache we might have to keep up, because it still has some dark in it, but the rest of your beard, I'm not seeing very much dark at the root at all.

(Santa Rick) Okay.

(Missy) Okay, do you still need the fan, do you feel like?

(Santa Rick) Yeah, 'cause it's giving me fresh air.

(Missy) Okay, all right.

(indistinct remarks) (Santa Rick) I'm having so much fun.

(Missy) Perhaps the string to the bag.

-I just love this.

-Okay.

(Santa Rick) Not!

(chuckling) Are you getting the hair dryer?

(narrator) Someone with an exemplary beard is Santa Steve.

He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his Mrs. Claus, Diane.

(Santa Steve) Diane, keep losing hair like this, I'm gonna be in trouble.

In a couple of years, I'm not gonna have, uh, that much left to be combing anymore.

(quirky holiday music) Gotta fluff it up a little bit.

Help it dry a little quicker this way.

♪ Okay.

Better, that looks nice and fluffy.

Let's get ready for those handlebars a little later on in the process.

But at least when it's drying, it'll start drying in place.

Right down here.

Gotta roll these guys a little bit.

♪ I grew up in a little town in Pennsylvania.

When I was a young man at Whitehall High School, there was a special lady in my life that I kinda had an eye on.

And, well, all I can say, at the age of 15, I guess I kinda made a promise to myself that this is the gal for me.

This is Santa's magic case right here.

This is what makes Santa, between Mrs. Claus and this case, you will be shocked to see what, uh, it all turns out to be.

(cheerful music) It's kind of a deal where, you know, I'm the right hand, literally, I use my right hand.

She's the left hand, 'cause she's literally a left hand, so together, with the right hand and the left hand, we just hit it off, everything works good.

So, you're gonna see that it's exactly the right height, it's adjustable, and Mrs. Claus can work any way.

She can spin Santa around, she can make him do doughnuts like you can't imagine.

And she is the very special person in my life, and now that's the Mrs. Claus of my life, and I love her.

♪ For me, Christmas is the highlight of my life, and--and-- right to this very day it still is, because now, as you can see, I'm a Santa and--and now I can help spread that joy, and--and love of Christmas to everyone else.

(Diane) Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

I have over 400 Hallmark ornaments, plus other ornaments that I've gathered over the years.

I love Christmas.

I have a whole room upstairs where half of the room is Christmas decorations.

♪ (Santa Steve) A woman come up to me and she says, "Well, Santa."

She says, "I'm--I'm a--a-- you know, the owner of a business.

Things aren't going too well."

So, with that, I said to her, "Oh-ho-ho, give me your hand, ma'am."

And I said to her, "You know, you are a good person.

I know that you have the ability to make your business successful."

And with that, she--she kinda wiped a tear from her eye, and she said, "You know, Santa, thank you."

And it was very touching to see this person walk away with that kind of feeling at Christmas.

♪ (narrator) One Santa who has considerable training in being a Santa for all is Santa Carl.

He works alongside his daughter, Nikki.

-Hi, Dad.

-Hi, how you doing?

(Nikki) Good, how are you?

(Santa Carl) Yeah, getting ready to go to work.

(Nikki) It's an "elf-fit."

(Santa Carl) You and all those millennials acronym everything, don't you?

-Yes.

-Everything under the sun.

(Nikki) "Elf-fit," I like it, that's-- that's my new coined term.

(Santa Carl) Elf-fit.

You first, me first?

Me first.

-I was gonna-- -My name is Carl Johnson, and am I professional Christmas performer, i.e., I'm Santa.

(Nikki) Uh, my name is Nicole Johnson, "Nikki," and I was born and raised here in Milton, Georgia.

Um, this is my dad, and I am a professional Christmas performer as well, but I play Elf, Elf Noelle.

(Santa Carl) Personally, I've always been a very larger fellow.

-Chubs.

-As they do say in, uh, a lot of the circles, I'm fluffy.

In about 2000, I was working for Lowes.

The HR person came up and said, "Hey, you're a big guy, you know?

If I bought a suit for you, would you sit out front, and, you know, pass out candy canes to basically anybody that came by?"

I said, "Hm, okay, I guess."

(Nikki) Um, we used to use these boot covers on just, like, normal shoes, um, but now we actually have, like-- I wear boots, and then I put, um, fur toppers on top, so they look really comfy.

Um, I--I'm packing it up for, like, school and stuff, so-- (crumpling) And then--oh, socks.

This is just like run-of-the-mill green and white ones, but I also have... (grunting) ...more of 'em.

I have heart ones in here, and then just weird like, sideways stripes, and then a lot of green, a lot of green.

That's a very good color for an elf, but-- (crumpling) Oh, there we go.

So, we have our jacket and my pants.

(Santa Carl) I remember I stumbled across the Santa oath, and I read it, and I was like, "Wow, that'd be cool."

And I couldn't even print it off the website.

I'm like, "Okay."

So, then I get more into it, and I'm like, "Oh, it's a proprietary copyrighted thing," and you have to ask permission from, you know, a couple different families from original Santas back in the '30s.

I'm like, "Okay, I guess I'll never be able to get that."

But next thing I know, um, a few people were like, "Well, you know, I know a guy that is a Santa, I know a guy."

So, I started contacting them, next thing ya know I'm at a school.

So, yeah, I did the, um, day care.

(Nikki) Yeah, when I was, like, three.

-Oh, or less.

-Yeah, three or less.

I have, like, a picture of it, and I'm like, "Did not know that was my dad probably at all."

(Santa Carl) To work with my daughter, it is-- Now I understand a lot more about her.

Who she is, you know, how she's growing.

We've developed a bond that is indescribable.

(Nikki) Working with my dad is awesome.

I truly get to spend probably one of the best times of the year with my, like--you know, my dad, which is super fun.

It's something I think I'll treasure probably for the rest of my life, even--I don't know how long this man will go for.

I will go as long as he wants to go and be Santa, I guess.

(screaming, laughing) (narrator) Santa Carl and Elf Noelle have an important role at Santa School.

They are part of a team delivering a workshop aimed at inclusivity for individuals with special needs.

(uplifting holiday music) (Santa Carl) That first time I met Griffen, Griffen came through the door, you know, the same way he's done all through the years, and screams out, "Santa!"

And just about knocked me off the stage the first year, and he, you know, jumps up in my arms and, "I love you!"

And he stopped, and I said, "You okay?"

She said, "Yeah, I'm okay, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

It took me a full day to recover.

-Mhm.

-The workshop is livestreamed to the Santas who are sat next door.

(Santa Carl) Here he comes.

♪ Griffen, buddy!

(Griffen) Santa!

(indistinct remarks) (chuckling) (Santa Carl) Oh, my goodness, it's so good to see you.

Look at you!

You have grown so much!

-You're my Santa?

-Yes, I am your Santa, and look at those shoes.

Those look like my shoes.

It's my color, right?

Of course it's my--okay.

(James) I--I am James Brown, father of Griffen Brown, who has been here a few years, but this is the first time that I've gotten to come here, and I think my wife's been holding out on me, because what-- what a--what a delight seeing-- you know, seeing you guys in action.

(Santa Carl) Now, I heard that you've got a-- something that you really like.

-Like what?

-Like what, like Spiderman.

-Is that true?

-Mhm!

-Do you like Spiderman?

-Mhm!

(Santa Carl) All right.

And do you know what I like even better than Spiderman?

(Griffen) What, what is it?

-Toy Story.

-Oh, Toy Story!

(Santa Carl) Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho.

(James) For the most part, people are pretty good, and--and accommodating, and it's just-- it's learning how to always maybe redirect to always keep him engaged while we're out or at an activity.

So, it's--it's just, um, trying to stay a couple of steps ahead of him.

(Santa Carl) It is so good to see you, buddy, I tell you.

This is one of my best days of the year -when I get to see you.

-You.

(Santa Carl) Yeah, yeah.

Give me a high five.

(Santa Rick) I'd like to know what we could do as a community, because we just don't-- we don't have the specialized training that really you need.

I mean, people go to school for six and eight years.

(Elizabeth) Um, there's, like, something about Michael when we go out that sometimes we don't always say it.

What do need is acknowledging that he's in the room or that he's in the space.

Sometimes people look to me, and it's okay to communicate with him first.

To see what those parents go through, when they started speaking, there was a lot of emotions built up, and we're supposed to be Santa Claus for them all, so we need to do a better job of addressing those parents' needs just like those children's needs, too, and I think we have the-- uh, the stage, the platform to do that as Santas.

It's a very, uh, encouraging, a very positive thing to know that they wanted to learn more about the special needs community, that as part of their-- their job, they're trying to make sure that everybody that comes to visit them during Christmastime feels, um, included.

(chuckling) -All right, you ready?

-Okay, you ready?

-Ready?

-Bye-bye, Griffen.

Aw.

Love you, Griffen.

Bye-bye.

Good to see you.

(indistinct remarks) Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho.

(sentimental music) ♪ (exhaling heavily) I'm impressed with the fact that the Santas and Mrs. Clauses want to make sure that they're doing justice, um, and respecting the experience for each individual.

(narrator) Mrs. Claus Wendy works with Santa Brian.

He has been a professional Santa for 10 years now.

This is his first time visiting Santa School.

My name is Brian Marchetti, I was born and raised in Middle River, Maryland, and currently live in Essex, Maryland, which is in Baltimore County.

People ask me why do I do Santa, and the reality is I lost a bet.

(Wendy) Here we have a tradition of No-Shave November, and so Brian was starting to grow a beard, and so I started teasing him, 'cause as his beard came in, it was fairly white except for around the corners, and I said, "With your blue eyes, and your belly laugh, and your great speaking voice, I think you would be a great Santa."

Brian looked at me dead in the eyes and he said, "You find me a suit and I'll be Santa."

I took the dare.

So, I was a very fortunate child.

I was adopted by my mom and dad, so I was raised as an only child, and they both--both my parents were probably on the poorer side growing up, so having adopted a child that was important and special to them, I--I'm gonna honestly say that they spoiled me.

So, Christmas to me was a huge event, because it was full of so many memories, and just because you have the look that I had and you put on a red suit, it doesn't make you Santa.

There's more to it than that.

And I didn't know what I was doing, so I--I went out and I did what I thought was best, but equally, um, again, Mrs. Claus Wendy was there the day that I did it, not as Mrs. Claus, but just as a--a bystander, and she coached me, and she really helped me develop the skills that I have.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't be as successful as I am if it wasn't for her.

(Wendy) Um, in the first season of doing Santa, he actually went to go to my--my nephew's house, and that was the very first person that he was Santa Claus for.

Matthew at the time was 18 months, and I think the description of that experience, in my mind, was magical.

I have pictures that are stunning, and, um, are still sitting in my living room today, that they're so meaningful.

All of the--the honesty and the awe that children experience with the spirit of Christmas.

(narrator) The next thing on Santa's checklist is having the perfect helper.

In most cases, this comes in the form of a Mrs. Claus.

(cheerful holiday music) One of the best things for me about being Mrs. Claus is it brings me back working with children.

Because I've worked with children all my life, I really do enjoy it, and lets me bring smiles to children's faces, lets me read stories, sing songs, um, do all kinds of things with them again, and that brings joy to my heart.

So, I feel that this is a good reference book, and a good book to help build your backstory.

Being Mrs. Claus, for me, um, involves being-- trying to be the best Mrs. Claus that I can be, and learning as much as I can about her.

And Mrs. Claus is an up-and-coming character.

She's becoming more-- She's evolving, she's evolving, and so I feel as though I'm evolving with her.

And you're constantly learning, and sharing, and talking to other Mrs. Clauses to put together the kind of Mrs. Claus you wanna be.

What is the look that you wanna have?

Do you wanna wear a wig?

Do you not wanna wear a wig?

Do you have white hair, gray hair, red hair, brown hair?

There are lots of decisions.

Most of us, though, agree on bling.

We like bling.

(narrator) As Santa School comes to a close, the Santas are able to reflect on their time here and what they have learned.

School was amazing.

I had the best time.

Being a first-year Santa and my first time to the school, I learned so much.

It was just spectacular.

It was great.

I love this school.

The school is phenomenal.

Had a great time.

Hanging out with your brother Santas, and that's always a big thing for me.

I didn't know what to expect when I came here.

I'm a rookie Santa, and it's been a blast because I've learned so much from the other Santas, and I--I'm convinced I can do this.

When you come to Santa School, instantly you're just accepted as part of this family, and it's--it's wild, because all of these Santas really, really, really wanna help you succeed and help you be the best Santa you can be, which is what we're trying to teach at the school, and these guys and women, they just--they'll do anything for you.

(all) Merry Christmas!

(upbeat music) (narrator) So, do the Santas now know what it takes to be just like the real Santa?

(Santa Lenny) Well, I don't know if you can ever be the perfect Santa.

You just have to be the best Santa that you can be, and if you're going to be Santa, be Santa year round.

This is my third year of being a Santa, and I always thought, "Well, we all have to be the-- the perfect Santa."

Turns out we're not perfect Santas, and everybody has their own type of Santa and slant on it, and that is what really makes it fun, even more fun than it's been in the past.

Many people I've seen with my same hat, but not with my goggles, so I've been able to do something to make myself a little unique, and you do want to be able to stand out in a sea of people who are trying to stand out.

When I came here, there was nobody else like me.

But it's not about the color of skin, it's about what's in your heart, and it's the spirit of being a Santa Claus.

We're all one with the Christmas spirit.

(narrator) What has become obvious from our trip to Santa School is that it is impossible to be the perfect Santa.

Only the big man himself is able to achieve that.

Each person's perception as to what makes the perfect Santa is different.

But luckily, due to schools like the Northern Lights Santa Academy, there is now a Santa out there for everybody.

Now the question we all want to know, of course, is, "What does Santa want for Christmas?"

If I had to go see Santa right now, I would ask him for the same thing that a lot of the people that I talk to ask of me, and that is for me, my wife, and my family to have a very, very healthy New Year, and that we can all be together, share smiles.

I would say, "Santa, if you can help achieve that for me, I would greatly appreciate that."

If I could ask Santa for one thing for Christmas this year, what it would be is more Saturdays in the month of December.

That would allow me to do so much more than what I do right now.

If I could ask Santa for anything, wow.

(cheerful music) I would always love a new suit.

(chuckling) ♪ (narrator) Well, Christmas is nearing, and we are back to see our Santas in action.

(Santa Magic) I just, um--I just let my beard go.

It grows very, very fast, this is about eight weeks from nothing, and, uh, then I just thought I'd spend a lot of time bleaching it.

I know more about hair care than any bald man ought to know, I will tell you that.

The kids are just completely enamored with you.

They--they all love you.

It makes everybody smile as soon as you walk up.

The children'll be unhappy, and then as soon as they see Santa, they'll--all of a sudden you'll see a smile -on their face.

-Most people's Christmas is Christmas Eve the 24th, and then Christmas Day the 25th.

Well, ours, ours starts at November.

November 1st.

Mrs. Claus, look at--!

Can I see that?

Let me see that.

Wow!

(child) I worked really hard with that!

(Santa Steve) I know, I can tell you worked very hard with this.

This isn't anything that you can make quick.

-Wow!

-Whenever I tell anybody I'm a professional Santa, they're like, "Whoa."

Everybody's so stressed in their everyday lives.

We just seem to give them an escape.

-A little break.

-A little break from the everyday.

(Santa Carl and Nikki) Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, -Rudolph!

-Rudolph!

(chuckling) -See?

-I was giving it.

-You were, I love it, I love it.

-Yeah?

Yeah!

(Santa Brian) Today's December 1st, and we are at the B&O Railroad Museum in Downtown Baltimore, and we're here for the Polar Express train rides.

(uplifting music) When I first start doing it, you know, I had what I called "my normal personality," and then I had to modify myself, or put myself into "Santa mode," as I used to call it, and I would change a bit of who I was.

And over a period of time and years and doing it, and really liking the character that I portray, in--in fact, I believe it, especially those guys that have been doing it for 20-plus years, they tell you that you become Santa, and I understand that because it's who I'm becoming.

It really is, uh-- I've modified my own choices, my own taste, my own-- my own everything to become something 365 days a year.

All right, we're having a little community parade and visit with Santa.

Santa and being Santa, to me, is the epitome of really doing for others.

We visit nursing homes, and even though some of those patients can't remember their own children or own husband, they all remember who Santa is, which really touches your heart.

(chuckling) (woman) I like your lantern.

(indistinct remarks) (Santa Lenny) Is that chocolate?

Is that chocolate flavor?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

(man) You gotta say-- you gotta say thank you.

-Hi, guys!

-Did you have a good breakfast?

-Did you have a good breakfast?

-Yes.

(Santa Lenny) Madeleine, what would you like for Christmas?

-A Barbie doll.

-A Barbie doll.

Three, two, one!

All right.

(cheering) (clapping) ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Jingle all the way ♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪ ♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪ -Yay!

-Look who's down here.

-And what would you like?

-I want clothes.

(Santa Rick) Well, we've got clothes.

What else?

You need a toy to go with those clothes, though.

At least one toy.

(child) Hm.

-Legos?

-Scooter.

(Santa Rick) A scooter, we've got scooters.

I'm gonna talk to the elves about that, okay?

-Yes.

-Yes, we can do this, right?

-Mhm.

-All right.

A good Santa will laugh tears of joy with--with everybody at least once a year, and cry tears of sadness.

♪ Don we now our gay apparel ♪ (vocalizing) (chuckling) Was I singing or were you singing?

(narrator) Our Santas have all come from various walks of life, and have become very different types of Santa.

What is clear is that they are all at school with two goals in mind: To be the best Santa they can be, and to help keep the spirit of Christmas alive.

(Santa Steve) For me, Christmas means the time of year where we, as a nation, need to be heading-- we need to have the love, the joy, and we need to all love each other.

It's giving of yourself, and sharing and being with your family and friends, and participating with them, and meals, and the camaraderie, and--and bringing-- just having some joyous times.

That's really--that's really all that any of the holidays are really about.

Growing up as a child, it was about receiving gifts.

And then, you get a little older and it's about giving gifts and receiving gifts, and then as I aged, I really got away from that practice.

I feel like the gift giving exchange it's really-- it's become dominant.

It's what commercial America has turned Christmas into.

What needs to really happen that day is for people to not work, and for people to gather with their families and gather with their friends, and share in love and experiences, and create memories.

And that's what Santa does, Santa helps you create memories.

(soft music) (Santa Rick) I love Christmas, I've always loved Christmas.

I just love being part of this family.

The--the Claus family, whether you're a man or a woman, is an amazing situation where you need to help people.

It's a time of good will and cheer, and the spirit of Christmas, it's really the spirit of mankind.

We were really put here to help each other, and--and make the world a better place.

Imagination gives us hope.

The responsibility of being Santa is to guard, and protect, and covet that situation that you hold of people's imagination, so that you can keep the spirit of Christmas alive, and keep the belief in Santa going, because Santa is real.

♪ (upbeat music) ♪ (singers) ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ (vocalizing) ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ (singer) ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ ♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ ♪ And a happy New Year ♪ (ambient music) ♪