—

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rudeness

today

37 - Sunday, December 25, 1988 - North Shore News

Ten “” - Tk ast

ts

News reporter interviews
the Jolly Elf himself

BY NOW the base of your Christmas tree has expanded
exponentially outward, engulfing your living room with a
colorful carpet of shredded wrapping paper.

Gifts have lit up the eyes of the
little ones. The batteries are still
fresh. The Christrnas feasting is
soon to begin.

North Shore News reporter
Michael Becker managed to con-
vince Santa Claus to take time out
after his North Shore gift-giving
run to stop by the office for a
quick interview. Consider the
magical words of the Jolly Elf
while you sit back and digest.

MB: I've always been impressed by
how you pull off the yearly trick of
making reindeer fly. What’s the
secret?

SC: I discovered long ago that ail
earth-bound animals have a love-
hate relationship with gravity. On
the one hand, the phenomenon
serves to keep us from flying off
into space, yet on the cther hand,
it drags us down. I found that
reindeer were exceptionally recep-
tive to the power of positive think-
ing. Every year during the month
of November I take them aside
daily to convince them that they
really can fly. So far it’s worked
out.

MB: Santa, there seems to be a
certain mass-culture fogginess
regarding the exact nature of your
origins. How old are you and
where did you come from?

SC: I’m not trying to be evasive,
but Pll have to side-step the issue
of age. I live Leyond the realm of
common time. You see me because
you believe in me. Therefore, as
Jong as people believe, I am in fact
timeless. As to my origins, con-
trary to some Christmas historians,
the Coca Cola company did not
invent me. In essence I am a col-
lective realization partially based in
historical fact which has grown to
mythic proportions over a period
of centuries. Here in the west as
Saint Nicholas hundreds of years
ago, I became known as the patron
saint of children. One story had
me restoring life to three children
who were murdered by a wicked
innkeeper who had cut up their
bodies and pickled them in brine.
The Dutch kept me in their hearts
as Sinter-Klaas when they first
came to settle in North America
and also brought along the tradi-
tion of giving gifts to children.
English settlers liked the idea and
Sinter-Klaas became Santa Claus.
MB: Santa, why are you always
smiling? I have never seen you
looking sad.

SC: When I smile others smile. A

See Santa
Page 38

NEWS photo Nell Lucente

WHETHER you cali him Sinter-Klaas, Saint Nicholas or simply Santa Claus, the jolly
fellow is everywhere this time of year. The legendary figure landed his sleigh on the roof of
the offices of the North Shore News and dropped in for a quick interview to share some
thoughts on whe he is and why he does what he dees.

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