Salute to Santas

As it is Christmas, I am going to devote my column to all the hard working Santas out there. My mum sent me a fun item about Santas ripped out from her News For Seniors magazine.

It details the screening and training program for the modern day Santa. "Each year hundreds of people line up to play the role of Santa in department stores, shopping centres and at promotional events throughout Australia," the magazine states. Each "Santa" undergoes rigorous police checks and reference checking.

Successful Santas must then undergo some pretty full on training. Recruiter Janelle Paterson told the mag: "Santa training involves ensuring Santas are careful not to promise a child anything, [they learn] how to deal with shy children and children with special needs, being aware of cultural sensitivities and the diverse nature of families today.

In some households Christmas is not celebrated and children will comment: 'I don't have Christmas at my house' and Santa's response will be to ask about how they will spend their holidays." Sounds like a potential minefield. Santa is of course based on Saint Nicholas, a fourth century Christian Bishop who gave presents to children and held a feast on December 6.

He was Bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey but his legacy was adopted in Germany then the Netherlands and then Flanders and he spread to the rest of the world from there. Wikkipedia has a good history on Saint Nic if you want to read more: www.wikipedia.org/.

In the meantime, a salute to all the hard working Santas out there and to all the Ask Kate readers, have a safe and happy holiday season.

Kate Southam is the Editor of careerone.com.au