więty Mikołaj, isn't he?
Like he does every year, Santa Claus is going to start knocking on our doors soon. But don't think for a minute that he has some free time to warm his tired old bones beside a fireplace in his hut somewhere in snowy Lapland. I have seen him at work already in various places. One such place was in kindergartens. It has become a tradition, that Santa, or więty Mikołaj, comes to pay kids a visit a few days before Christmas Eve.
"Children just love him," said Anna Siewińska, the director of a kindergarten on ul. Zwoleńska. "And I love the Christmas atmosphere and children's expectations mixed with anxiety over Santa's arrival."
When he arrived, the children were delighted. The braver ones tried to hug him, look into his bag and ask what he brought for them. However, it was a long time before they actually saw their presents.
więty Mikołaj was pretty tired after his "long journey" and was invited to eat a Christmas cake and warm himself with a hot cup of black coffee. During this time the children surrounded him and asked him various questions concerning his trip, where he lives and where he would go from here. But there were a few that were more sceptical about Santa's disguise and didn't quite believe that he was the real więty Mikołaj. Nevertheless, when he called each of them by their names to collect their presents, even the non-believers climbed on his knees to have a picture taken with him.
"I liked it," said Santa after it was all over, the father of two children who had left this kindergarten for elementary school last year. That's why he was selected - so none of the children could recognise him. It was a first time that "Santa" had done such acting.
"Who knows, maybe next year if I loose my job, I'll employ myself as a Santa," he laughed.
I didn't want to spoil the happy atmosphere by telling him that the competition in this "profession" is getting stronger every year. After all, this is the best method for retailers to promote their products before Christmas, especially in times where the market has become almost saturated, while customers don't have as much money in their pockets as they used to. Of course, job qualifications for Santas vary from employer to employer, but for most, selections are based on previous experience.
"I worked as Santa last year, so it was easier for me to get the job this year," said 24-year-old Tomek who works in Carrefour mall beside Dworzec Wileński.
The most popular place for więtych Mikołajów is, without a doubt, Smyk - children's heaven. Santa works there all day long. If he doesn't walk around the store, entertaining and talking to kids there, he can be found on the ground floor playing the "memory" game with cards, which we all know from our mobiles. Sometimes the lines of parents waiting with their eager children to speak Santa can be long. I was astonished to see that not only small children chatted with him, but also those whom I wouldn't expect to believe in Santa anymore.
What do they wish for? "All sorts of things," said Santa at Smyk. "Most of them wish for toys. Nevertheless, among those normal wishes there are also special requests. Some of them wish for some medicine to heal one of their sick family members or something that would bring mummy and daddy together again. These are the moments where you have to show a lot of affection, understanding and try to cheer them up." However, he added, that this could be difficult to do, especially at the end of the day when he simply has had enough of the children, their parents and the whole Christmas scene, and just wants to go home.
I had the pleasure of playing Santa myself, so I know what he means. Some of the kids can be annoying, especially when they tug at your beard. But it's great to see that most of them are delighted when you ask them what they would like for Christmas. Some of them are so thrilled that they forget what they want. For więty Mikołaj, that is quite convenient, but unfortunately, it doesn't happen too often.
"Children just love him," said Anna Siewińska, the director of a kindergarten on ul. Zwoleńska. "And I love the Christmas atmosphere and children's expectations mixed with anxiety over Santa's arrival."
When he arrived, the children were delighted. The braver ones tried to hug him, look into his bag and ask what he brought for them. However, it was a long time before they actually saw their presents.
więty Mikołaj was pretty tired after his "long journey" and was invited to eat a Christmas cake and warm himself with a hot cup of black coffee. During this time the children surrounded him and asked him various questions concerning his trip, where he lives and where he would go from here. But there were a few that were more sceptical about Santa's disguise and didn't quite believe that he was the real więty Mikołaj. Nevertheless, when he called each of them by their names to collect their presents, even the non-believers climbed on his knees to have a picture taken with him.
"I liked it," said Santa after it was all over, the father of two children who had left this kindergarten for elementary school last year. That's why he was selected - so none of the children could recognise him. It was a first time that "Santa" had done such acting.
"Who knows, maybe next year if I loose my job, I'll employ myself as a Santa," he laughed.
I didn't want to spoil the happy atmosphere by telling him that the competition in this "profession" is getting stronger every year. After all, this is the best method for retailers to promote their products before Christmas, especially in times where the market has become almost saturated, while customers don't have as much money in their pockets as they used to. Of course, job qualifications for Santas vary from employer to employer, but for most, selections are based on previous experience.
"I worked as Santa last year, so it was easier for me to get the job this year," said 24-year-old Tomek who works in Carrefour mall beside Dworzec Wileński.
The most popular place for więtych Mikołajów is, without a doubt, Smyk - children's heaven. Santa works there all day long. If he doesn't walk around the store, entertaining and talking to kids there, he can be found on the ground floor playing the "memory" game with cards, which we all know from our mobiles. Sometimes the lines of parents waiting with their eager children to speak Santa can be long. I was astonished to see that not only small children chatted with him, but also those whom I wouldn't expect to believe in Santa anymore.
What do they wish for? "All sorts of things," said Santa at Smyk. "Most of them wish for toys. Nevertheless, among those normal wishes there are also special requests. Some of them wish for some medicine to heal one of their sick family members or something that would bring mummy and daddy together again. These are the moments where you have to show a lot of affection, understanding and try to cheer them up." However, he added, that this could be difficult to do, especially at the end of the day when he simply has had enough of the children, their parents and the whole Christmas scene, and just wants to go home.
I had the pleasure of playing Santa myself, so I know what he means. Some of the kids can be annoying, especially when they tug at your beard. But it's great to see that most of them are delighted when you ask them what they would like for Christmas. Some of them are so thrilled that they forget what they want. For więty Mikołaj, that is quite convenient, but unfortunately, it doesn't happen too often.
