The Santa Project, 1965

Back in the 1960s, our church youth group (led by my dad) had a special Christmas activity called “The Santa Project.”

Every year the church compiled a list of families that had requested a Christmas Eve visit from Santa Claus for their kids.  Then, on Christmas Eve, the kids in the youth group would gather at the church.  The boys would bulk up with pillows to dress as Santa Claus, complete with red suit, black belt, white wig and beard.  The girls would help the guys get their pillows and suits on, make sure the wig and beard were on straight, and apply white make-up to eyebrows.

Each “Santa” would be driven by an adult to addresses all around the city at the appointed times.  Usually the family would leave some presents outside the front door for “Santa” to pick up and bring in to the kids.

Needless to say, the little kids (and their parents) were thrilled, and we teen-age pretenders were amazed that the kids believed we were actually Santa Claus.  So we “ho-ho-ho”-ed and handed out presents in the most ebullient style we could muster, and helped a lot of people (including ourselves) enjoy the spirit of the season.

Fortunately, besides organizing the entire project, my dad also took home movies of the costuming process at the church.  You can watch a 4-minute video here.  Just hit the "play" arrow on the video screen.

May you have a joyful and peaceful holy day.