He goes by a number of names: Kris Kringle, St. Nick, Father Christmas, Jolly Ol’ St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, or Père Noël to name a few.
But to most of us, as December 25 draws near, we know this venerated figure in red as Santa Claus.
He appears in malls, retail stores, parades, charity events, and a plethora of private homes around the country. While Christmas Eve is his busiest day of the year, those who have the jolly task of role-playing Santa begin their season of goodwill months before.
Over the decades, the business of being Santa has spawned dozens of Santa Claus schools, conventions, and social media sites. For some, this merry-making may be about the money. The average Santa can make from $5,000 to $25,000 a season depending on the clientele.
But for James K. Brown of Warrenton, Virginia, Santa Claus is a persona that he takes very personally. Profit is not his main motivator.
