This Santa is not from the town of Myra but from Ellis Nagar. I have been dressing up like Santa Claus for the past 30 years and cheering my kids in the primary school where I teach. When I am dressed in that red cloak with big moustache and beard my happiness knows no bounds.
When I go near the children some fear to come near me while some start crying. Then there are some who want to play with me. When I start distributing the gifts the children swarm around me.
The cloak I wear is more than half-a-century old and it carries a lot of sentiments. My family specially made this cloak for the occasion. It is not gaudy but simple. I have plenty of memorable moments as Santa. As love, care and share are the important messages Santa Claus carries, I always tell my children the importance of love and the joy of sharing.
As Santa Claus I just do not distribute gifts but also ask the children who can afford to bring toys and share it with those who cannot. Children always respect my words and every year I get good number of toys to gift kids living in the slums. I don’t know from where I get the energy when I wear this dress. I sing and dance with the children for hours. Hope this continues in the years to come.
(Ms. Jean Rozario, KG teacher at SDH Jain Vidyalaya as Santa Claus.)
(A fortnightly column on men and women who make Madurai what it is)