Q&A: The Skinny on St. Nick

Kimberley McGee

Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000 | 2:06 a.m.

While trees are strung with tinsel and lights and presents are wrapped during long winter nights, a red-suited man with a sack full of toys is preparing to whisk down chimneys to give toys to good little girls and boys.

Or is he?

Santa Claus, that symbol of Christmas magic, lives in the hearts of children of all ages. Though it's been pondered -- many times, many ways -- some still wonder, does Santa really exist?

The Sun asked jolly St. Nick himself, stationed at Meadows mall, who personally put to bed questions about the man and the myths. He also shared his thoughts about Christmas magic, the upkeep of his reindeer and the great value of a simple gift.

Las Vegas Sun: Where are the reindeer while you visit with children at the Meadows mall?

Santa Claus: They are done training for the year and now they are getting fit for harnesses.

On Dec. 5 we make a little run down to Holland for St. Nicholas' Day, and then they hang around the North Pole until the 24th, which is the big day.

Sun: What do you do to get ready?

SC: I go from here to the sleigh and home to the North Pole. We rush around. I get my Christmas dinner late Christmas Day.

We go out again on Jan. 5 to pick up Old Christmas and Orthodox Christmas. Old Christmas is mostly (celebrated in) the non-English part of the United Kingdom and Appalachian Mountains. Orthodox Christmas is Russia, Greece, Romania, all those countries. It's a very busy time of year. But then we get the rest of the year off -- until September, when we start training again.

Sun: How's the red-nosed reindeer?

SC: A lot of people ask about Rudolph. He's a very important reindeer. He's a great searchlight. But he doesn't train enough. He's out doing so many commercials and modeling jobs that he's not the best leader of the group. So if it's clear weather, Rudolph stays home.

Sun: Children still seem to be in awe of you.

SC: They are mostly scared between 6 months and 3 1/2 years old. But a couple of years ago I had a 50-year-old woman come sit on my knee, and it was the first time she ever had the courage to come sit on Santa's knee.

Sun: Why is that, Santa?

SC: I'm sort of bigger than life. Kids spend a week saying, "I want to go see Santa," but by the time they get to the front of the line, they've seen Santa. This business of sitting on the lap and getting their picture taken, that's not what they asked for.

A lot of kids don't want to smile on Santa's lap. They've got work to do. They have to convince Santa that A) they've been good and B) they need this stuff.

Sun: What are tikes pining for these days?

SC: Scooters, Barbies, Poochies -- that's one of about four different kinds of electronic pets. It's a lot more complicated than it used to be.

Sun: What Christmas wishes are the hardest to fulfill -- and to hear?

SC: There was a kid one year who asked for a house because his had been washed away.

Last year there was a kid who came by once every two days and was bound to a wheelchair. The only way he could communicate was with a computer. He asked for some toys, but he was mostly curious about me.

Sun: What are most children curious about?

SC: Most of them are worried about the address. But if I can't get there, then I come through the parents.

Also, the chimney. If there's not one, Santa will figure out something else. And if the fire's still on, part of the magic is that it will go out.

Sun: What do you say if their wish didn't come true?

SC: That I'm really sorry and I hope to do better this year -- but did they check with their parents?

I get a lot of requests for puppies, cats and ponies, too. If it's OK with your parents and you are willing to feed it and love it, I'll bring you whatever you want. But if any adult said no, it doesn't come off the sleigh.

Sun: What do you suggest children give?

SC: They can make something. If all else fails they can just give their parents a big hug and say, "I love you, Mommy." The parents will frequently wonder where that's coming from, but they like it.

It's a little ability to avoid spending money for the sake of spending money. Buying Christmas gifts is fun, I like to do it myself for Mrs. Claus, but ... I happen to know somebody who works for M.A.S.H (Village), and there are kids on the street who need stuff, too. So if somebody wants to do charitable Christmas giving instead of personal Christmas giving, there are big opportunities.

I sometimes tell kids who say they have a lot that they can recycle their old toys. Some of them come back and tell me that they've done that. Not very often, but sometimes.

Sun: Do you still dole out coal?

SC: Most kids are just being kids. They are not bad just because they don't do everything their mommy asked them to do.

But I still keep tabs. Anytime you see someone who looks like me during the summer, that's me checking up on who is naughty and nice -- including the parents.