Over Eons And Around The Globe, Kindness Never Goes Out Of Style
An Interview with Santa RW Couple (RW, that’s Real Whiskers!)

By Cathy Miller

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of interviewing many local luminaries for the Person (or Persons) of the Week for Inside Warren, but during a recent visit to Washington Borough, none other than Santa and Mrs. Claus graciously agreed to share their tale and their time with our faithful readers!

Welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus.
     Mrs. Claus: So very NICE to see you again. Oh Ho HO!     Santa: Yes! I’m real, present and bringing a glimpse of St. Nick into the 21st Century. I’m so glad to share a bit of my story with you and my journey here to these times.

When and where were you born?
     Santa: Turkey, I’m 1,754 years old! To the best of my recollection, I was born between 265-270 AD in a small coastal town, a fishing village in the Middle East Patara, Lycia which is part of modern-day Turkey.
     Mrs Claus: That’s why Santa appears at the end of the Thanksgiving parade… present day turkey! Oh HO!!!

What was your childhood like?
     Santa: My parents died when I was a teenager and arrangements were made for me to live at a monastery, so I became an orphan of the church. Fortunately, I was part of a fairly wealthy family so I was taught to read and write in Latin.

Where did you grow up?
     Santa: In the parsonage at the monastery. Most of my young life was spent in a neighboring town in Myra, a small fishing village with lots of good fish to eat.

College?
     Santa: My early adult life was spent traveling around to other coastal towns in my parish taking care of the small churches and fishing villages. I’m often known as the patron saint of fishermen. I rose to the level of Bishop. My garments, then as today, were red. Many wonder why ‘Santa’s suit’ is red. That’s why!
    Mrs. Claus: Rose…Oh, I often wear roses too.

Where is “home” now?
     Santa: Over the centuries I’ve traveled around many countries. My home is as out-of-the way place as you can imagine, the North Pole!

How did you two meet? How long have you been married?
     Santa: Oh ho HO HO|! That’s a good tale. As I began traveling around the world to deliver gifts, I needed a faster way to complete my route. About 1,300 years ago I visited a reindeer farm in Norway run by Mrs. Claus’ family. I negotiated for eight reindeer and immediately fell in love with the Mrs. It truly was love at first sight and a whirlwind romance. She said ‘yes’ soon after.
     Mrs. Claus: He was handsome and kind. Even with whiskers I could see a loving face. OHoh!

Do you have any special interests?
     Mrs. Claus: My husband loves books – literature and history. He’s always visiting libraries.
     Santa: When not making toys, I’ve always loved good books. My latest off-season job is as a Librarian. Reading great literature is such fun. It lets me travel to places and times without ever leaving the North Pole!

What’s the most memorable book you’ve read?
     Santa: Books! Oh so many. I really like that young fella from 19th Century England, Charles Dickens. Oh he could spin a tale, couldn’t he? He wrote that wonderful story about life struggles and redemption at this time of year, “A Christmas Carol” or “Scrooge” – such a happy ending. Ho HO ho!

Do you have any hobbies?
     Santa: Hobbies? Oh yes! Woodworking, of course. I love shaping old wood into interesting and beautiful objects. There’s something special about transforming something old and discarded and making it new. These were some of my earlier gifts that I brought to others and still do today. That’s if you stay on my NICE list!

What’s your favorite meal?
     Santa: I must confess and bow to modern times. When the ‘HOT’ sign is on, a delicious box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts! I’m thankful Mrs. Claus makes wonderful greens and healthy meals.
     Mrs. Claus: HoHOho Santa loves cereal, sugar and sweets, but I do serve Santa greens!

What made you decide to travel the world in one night, powered by reindeer, with gifts for everyone?
     Santa: Traveling the world…As I said, my parents were wealthy. When they died, they left me an endowment. The brothers in the monastery helped me manage it. They gave me an allowance, and I would give some of it to the poor, without them knowing.
     Mrs. Claus: It’s such an endearing story. Once upon a time there were three girls who needed dowries to marry, so Santa secretly put coins in their window at night. He has also been inspired over the centuries by other brothers, like St. Francis, who cared for animals, great and small.

Have you ever had trouble getting supplies to make all those toys?
     Santa: Supplies…Rarely. I have so many elves, some of whom are very good scouts for supplies and materials for toys. The supply chain generally runs very smoothly at the North Pole. However, this Covid pandemic has put a real kink in most people’s lives, hasn’t it? We’ve had to be extra resourceful.
     Mrs. Claus: Oh for almost two years now – our elves are ringing bells trying to chase it away. We have had to be very resourceful. This year, the Toys for Tots train ran again. We were aboard on December 4, thanking the good people in Washington Borough and Township for collecting toys, 182 toys this year (added to over 3,000 total collected that day).This helped a lot! We also like to repurpose gifts and be creative. Over the years, Santa has repurposed tree branches and oyster shells into ornaments and cleaned up cedar roof shingles from barns being taken down around areas like here in Warren County to paint angels and folk art.
     Santa: Yes! The Toys for Tots train has been such a help. It gives my elves a bit of a break, and helps assure every good boy and girl receives a gift.

Speaking of elves, what’s the average age of your elves?
     Santa: Elves usually live 200 to 300 years, that’s about average for a good ole elf life. They don’t live as long as some in the North Pole.

What’s the secret to staying so clean when slipping down a chimney?
     Mrs. Claus: Fire safety and clean chimneys are so important! We recommend families have a chimney sweep clean their chimneys every year or two.
     Santa: My special attire repels ashes and suet mostly.

Do you take vacations when things slow down?
     Santa: Oh HO HO! Santa loves the beach. And you have such lovely beaches here in New Jersey. Ho Ho HO, you may even see me wandering on one of them on a hot summer day. Incognito, of course!
     Mrs. Claus: I like the beaches during Christmas, all the way to Epiphany.

You said you’ve been around over 1,000 years. How would you compare then to now? What would you wish for the future world?
     Mrs. Claus: Books. Books, more good books. They withstand the test of time, past, current and tomorrow. Santa loves books, they last through the ages, they’re timeless.
     Santa: I hope people can take this time of year and reflect. Presents have become so important to this Holiday (Christmas). Maybe we can take time to give thanks for all we have already been given by our Creator. One day at a time – my hope is we all find joy and meaning in each day. That is the key.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, what does Christmas mean to you?
     Santa: My best gift in life is Mrs Claus! She is as special a gift as ever was. I love her dearly and couldn’t be Santa without her. She is a true helpmate and supportive soul.
     Mrs. Claus: The very best part of being Santa RW Couple is JOY! We claim the fruit of the spirit, and bring JOY to those we meet. It is also a wonderful way to grow as a helpmate couple, celebrate marriage and grow older together (while staying hoHOho so young-at-heart)!

What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve both learned in all this time?
     Mrs. Claus: That we can’t CHANGE the other, but we must always learn, and keep learning, how to work together, helpmate, complete each other.  
     Santa: Mrs. Claus has a very important role to play also so I can be kind and merry, hoHOho. She keeps me fluffed, tweaked and drives the sleigh. She loves to plan too.

You clearly understand children very deeply.
     Santa: It’s important to listen to the children and impart a special word, uplift them. Every child is on my NICE list! I also ask the children to do something good, help their parents, be nice to their brother/sister and others.
     Mrs. Claus: Most children want to be helpful and kind. Even children with special situations, we always try to draw out something to reach them.

Thank you Santa RW Couple, this has been an honor, a joy, and a most enlightening conversation!