On Santa’s lap

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For more than 20 years, I have had the pleasure of photographing kids, from newborn to 90-years-old, sitting on the lap of the ‘jolly old elf’ for the newspaper. 

We know him in English-speaking countries as Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas. In the United Kingdom and Canada, he can go by Father Christmas.

Sometimes those with German ancestry call him Kris Kringle (from the German Christkind, meaning Christ child). The French go by Père Noël. The Spanish say, Papa Noel. Presents for our neighbors in Mexico are brought by El Niñito Dios (baby Jesus) or Santo Clós.

Some of the Santas I have photographed have had natural beards and white hair. Others need help with a fake beard. Many do have a “tummy like a bowl full of jelly,” while others rely on stuffing. Still others are in the process of adding weight for the Dec. 24th trip around the world.

Despite what has been portrayed in movies — ie, Bad Santa — the Santas I have photographed have been inviting and friendly, always happy to spend time with the children. They have been both jolly and patient as the youngsters sit on their laps.

Through careful observation, I have determined there are seven different categories of children who sit on Santa’s lap. They go through many of these stages — not necessarily all of them — as they grow up. Here they are, in no specific order.

1.) The hugger. This child appreciates Santa and loves him. They run to him with a sparkle in their eyes. They are the true believers.

2.) The wonderer. This youngster is in awe of St. Nick. They sit on his lap, staring at his beard, probably thinking, “What am I doing here and why does this man have the biggest white beard I have ever seen?”

3.) The talker. These children have grown past stage two. They realize that they are on Santa’s lap for one reason — to tell him their Christmas gift list.

4.) The wiggler. This child can’t sit still and is ready to get off this stranger’s lap to run and play.

5.) The grabber. This one is rare, but some children just want to grab Santa’s beard — especially the fake ones — and play with it now and then.

6.) The leaner. This child is unsure of why they have been placed on this person’s lap in the red and white suit. All they know if this is unlike anyone they have ever seen before. So they lean and reach for mom or dad to be rescued.

7.) The screamer. Almost every child reaches this stage sometime between the ages of one and four. They are deathly afraid of Santa. No amount of bribery will help. Many cannot bear the sight of him. It doesn’t help to have an older sibling sitting on Santa’s other knee. Even mom or dad holding them close to will not remedy the situation. It can make it worse when the child before them is also a screamer. The screaming stops suddenly when mom and dad give in and carry them away.

My granddaughter Kaylee’s first year on Santa’s lap was wonderful. This year, at 16-months-old, she became a screamer — as demonstrated on Saturday. 

That brings up the question, what is so scary about this jolly figure?

One reason may be that Santa is seen as a stranger and the child has learned the concept of “stranger danger,” which can be good.

“Santa’s bright red clothing… and the pressure of being ‘good’ to get a present are likely to contribute to a scary experience more than partial concealment of the face,” says psychologist Stephanie Lay. She explains that our brains are unlikely to mistake Santa for anything else.

Emma Citron, a consultant clinical psychologist, believes that Santa’s famous outfit can play a part. “Younger children don’t tend to like dressing up, so when confronted with a fat man with a big white beard, they often can’t see behind the costume,” she explains.

Santa fear is similar to the common fear of clowns, adds Lay. “Santa and clowns both convey an expression of permanent jollity which might seem forced or unreliable and again, unsettling.”

Let’s pray that all our children and grandchildren learn the true meaning of Christmas — the celebration of God’s gift to humanity in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.