The men behind the beard in central Illinois
On a blustery, sub-20-degree night in downtown Springfield, the bright-green-and-red painted Santa House stands out like a beacon to children itching for the start of the Christmas season.
Tiny tots decked head-to-toe in fleece, down and wool waddle behind older brothers and sisters who break free of mom and dad, racing toward his front steps, shouting “Santa, Santa, Santa!” all the way.
These kids have waited all year to meet Santa Claus, the legendary North Pole dweller who guides his reindeer-drawn sleigh around the globe to deliver gifts to good boys and girls on Christmas Eve. When they step inside, that’s exactly who they meet.
The local professionals who appear as Santa for holiday get-togethers at charities, schools and churches don’t just throw on an off-therack red suit and white-cotton beard and belt out a few “Ho, ho, ho’s.” They actually become Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas.
As one Santa tells us, they have a “real beard, real belly and real love for kids.” They prepare for each holiday season by bleaching their hair (if it’s not already white), and convening with other Clauses for classes on Santa’s image and persona. Most of them even belong to national and regional Santa guilds that meet in the spring and fall.
Every December these Santas don layers of red velvet and white fur, magically transforming into merry messengers who collect the wishes of hundreds, if not thousands, of children across central Illinois. Some Santas remind their young visitors of the reason for the season, others want to offer the Christmas they never had.
All of them delight in making children smile and laugh.
Men behind the beard
Ken Guernsey sits in a green leather chair, next to a twinkling evergreen adorned with gingerbread-men ornaments, in the downtown Santa House on the Old State Capitol Plaza.
Six-year-old Eli Nehrt climbs onto Guernsey’s knee, and hands over a colored drawing. The pair study a map showing the long route from the North Pole to Nehrt’s home in Springfield. Nehrt tells Guernsey that he’d like a Star Wars Lego set and a Nerf football for Christmas.
“Do you want to be a football player?”
Guernsey asks. The boy smiles and nods his head.
This is Guernsey’s first year in the downtown house, but the 72-year-old from Springfield has been acting as Santa since he first passed out toys to veterans’ kids more than 10 years ago. He’s worked as the Santa at the White Oaks Mall, and this year has appeared at Memorial’s Festival of Trees and the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store.
His November and December are completely tied up, he says, but part of being a good Santa Claus is giving time and attention to anyone who needs it.
“Santa is a universal figure who gives,” Guernsey says. “This is a very taking world right now. Even for adults — I’ve had adults
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