Santa Mike
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
Other job: Retired elementary school teacher
Santa Claus for: 2 years
I taught elementary school for 31 years and began growing my beard out on the advice of a friend who said I would make a good Santa. I love children and I've worked with children all my life. It's just part of your personality or it isn't.
This year I began the week before Thanksgiving and work right up until Christmas Eve at 5 p.m. so it's about 5-6 weeks. I work mostly at Larimer square in lower downtown Denver on Saturdays and Sundays. We see about 200 children a day. I was also the Santa in the Denver area parade of lights and I work four days a week in a mall in a suburb of Denver.
Being a really good Santa is not just putting on a red suit and going "Ho Ho Ho." A Santa is someone who puts their heart and soul into communicating with children and connecting with them and instilling in them the belief in the magic of Christmas.
NEXT: Santa Jerry
