By Miles Layton

Like most people, Santa Claus reads the Albemarle Observer — not only to find out who has been naughty or nice, but to keep up with happenings in Northeastern NC.  

Christmas morning – after the ride – Buddy the Elf granted me an exclusive interview with Santa, aka the Innerbanks Santa — I know him!

Personal note, Santa, thanks for answering all those letters to you (Santa) from Chowan County’s kids a few years back, also the coffee, wise counsel and support for our newspaper.  

Here’s our story — By the time Santa Claus settles into a chair with a cup of coffee, the mythology falls away just enough to reveal the man behind the beard — generous, thoughtful, deeply spiritual and keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with being the world’s most recognizable symbol of Christmas.

During our interview, Santa spoke openly about the meaning of the season, the demands of Christmas Eve, the emotional weight of children’s wishes and how portraying Santa Claus has changed his life in ways he never expected. Though he is famously known for sleigh rides and chimney descents, Santa said Christmas is ultimately about something much deeper than toys or tradition.

“Christmas is more than Santa Claus and gift-receiving,” Santa explained. “Of course, the real meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, whom many of us honor. And everything that Jesus stands for….Love.”

For Santa, that word — love — is not a slogan or a seasonal sentiment. It is the guiding principle behind everything he does during the Christmas season and beyond.

“THAT is the true meaning of Christmas. Love. Loving your family, your friends, even your enemies. Loving what you have, not what you want. Loving where we live and what we can do to make it better. LOVE. And all of us exude the Christmas spirit when no matter what we do, we do it with love. That’s what Santa tries to do all the time,” he said.

Santa said Christmas offers a natural opportunity to slow down and reflect on faith and purpose.

“So it’s a good time to look at the Good Book and remember, the greatest thing is Love,” he said.

While the message of Christmas is timeless, the work of delivering joy to children around the world is anything but simple. When asked if he, the elves and the reindeer were ready for Christmas Eve, Santa didn’t hesitate.

“Are we ready for Christmas Eve? Remember, for us, it’s a 24 hour-plus night, covering the whole world,” he said. “The reindeer have been working out since Easter…getting their flying skills in shape. The elves have been working pretty much non-stop since January…because there are so many toys to make.”

Santa credited Mrs. Claus as the unsung hero of the North Pole.

“Mrs. Claus…here’s a secret..she’s the supervisor of just about everything, because I am too busy being jolly and doing all that HO-HO-HO! stuff,” he said. “So to answer the question: your Christmas crew has never been more ready. Especially this year. We’re bringing extra love and joy with every present.”

Despite his legendary association with the North Pole, Santa said he enjoys spending time in northeastern North Carolina, where he finds the climate more comfortable and the people welcoming.

“North Pole can be kind of cold, so I come down to northeastern North Carolina a lot where it is nice and pleasant,” he said. “The cold up there — you get used to it like anything else. With climate change, it is getting a little warmer there. Sometimes I wear a T-shirt, so I’m not always in the fur-lined winter coat.”

As CEO of the world’s largest toy operation, Santa takes pride in treating his workforce well. He described his leadership style as generous and elf-centered.

“I believe in the rights of the working elf — they are paid in kind,” he said. “I give them room and board, generous meals — all the cookies they can eat. Plus they get to play with all the toys. It’s a sweet gig.”

One of the greatest mysteries surrounding Santa is how he manages to enter millions of homes in a single night. Santa said the truth is far more practical — and magical — than people imagine.

“Santa has a special ability to snuggle in small places, but most of the time we’re going in the front door,” he said. “And we have a magic key that enables us to get into every house one night a year.”

Time, Santa said, is on his side thanks to geography and global diversity.

“Not all countries and people celebrate Christmas,” he said. “To them, Santa Claus might be a good myth, but it’s not real in their lives, so that eliminates a huge number of people. Times zones work for us and the fact that there are so many people living in confined areas right now that it’s easy to just drop off the presents and keep on scooting.”

Santa said some places embrace Christmas more visibly than others, and those communities leave a lasting impression on him.

“I like to visit places that love Christmas, places that make Christmas the centerpiece of their town — Edenton is that kind of town; New York City is that kind of a city,” Santa said. “Almost any big city in Germany where they really get into it and it is beautiful. Switzerland is like that, so is Italy.”

When it comes to toys, Santa said one gift stands above the rest.

“Books without a doubt, because what they offer lasts forever,” he said.

The Christmas season brings long hours for Santa and his team, with preparations beginning long before December arrives.

“Our shift is 24/7 — as soon as the Halloween stuff is put away, we’re cranking,” Santa said. “Of course, the elves are making toys all year. Day after Halloween, we really start gearing up the sleigh, putting the reindeer through their paces.”

Mrs. Claus, Santa said, plays a crucial role in keeping everything running smoothly.

“Mrs Claus is great — she has to contend with an overweight, over jolly guy all the time,” Santa said. “She keeps me in line. She keeps me scheduled — ‘yay Mrs. Claus,” Santa cheered.

Even the reindeer have personalities, particularly the most famous among them.

“Rudolph — he’s starting to get a little bit cocky. All these years of the song being sung, he’s like ‘I am the Red-nosed Reindeer,’” he said.

Santa said he remains old-fashioned when it comes to keeping track of who has been naughty or nice.

“I’m old school, so eye balling the list and writing down whose naughty and nice works best for me,” he said.

For Santa, wearing the red suit is not a costume — it is a calling that found him unexpectedly.

“The thing about being a Santa is that it is really a calling,” he said. “I think most of us who are Santa on a regular basis will tell you that. I read this magazine ad, saying ‘be a Santa Claus.’ I thought, ‘well, I’m the right size, my hair is white, let’s let the beard grow.’”

Over the years, Santa has experienced plenty of memorable moments. Some are humorous, others heartbreaking.

“Nobody has peed on me and nobody has puked on me,” said Santa as he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. “There’s been a few crying babies, but that’s to be expected. Plus half the time I think it is the parents who need to understand that they are thrusting their child at a big guy in red — maybe that might make the child a little nervous.”

The most difficult moments, Santa said, come when children ask for things that cannot be wrapped or delivered.

“Toughest story maybe — a kid asked, ‘Santa will you bring my parents back together,’” he said. “The only thing you can say is ‘Santa can’t do that. I wish I could do that, but Santa can not do that. But what I will do is keep you in my thoughts and keep your family in my prayers.’”

Those moments revealed a deeper spiritual side of being Santa.

“There is a real spiritual element to Santa that I didn’t really realize going in, but most of the Santa Clauses that I know — and I know about 450 of them are religious and spiritual people,” he said.

For all the emotional weight, Santa said the joy far outweighs the challenges.

“What’s really special is that when a child is 7 or 8 years old — the sweet spot of believing — when they just look and say, ‘I just love you,’” he said.

When Christmas ends, Santa said the sudden quiet can be difficult.

“Everyone has a little post-holiday depression I suppose or lower mood after the excitement of Christmas,” he said. “Last year I saw upwards of 350 people — that’s 350 hugs. That’s a lot all of sudden to not have.”

Being Santa, he said, has reshaped how he approaches life.

“Being Santa affects me very deeply,” he said. “Being Santa has changed some of my behavior. I take it very seriously— all of us do really. I think anything you feel that passionate about when it goes away, there’s a hole there.”

As the interview concluded, Santa returned to the message he believes matters most — love, faith and connection — values that extend far beyond Christmas Day.

For Santa Claus, the season is not about spectacle, but about service. And when he pulls on the red suit each year, it is not just tradition that guides him, but a calling rooted in love.