7380: Culturally Competent Claus.

From The Miami Herald…

For Santa Claus, culture counts
When Santa Claus arrives in South Florida, he learns that being bilingual and fitting in with locals is important.

By Laura Figueroa

While some may know Santa through the iconic images of a rosy-cheeked, white-bearded man, many children in South Florida’s melting pot are finding that Santa speaks Creole in Little Haiti, swivels his hips to Merengue music in Hialeah and revs up his motorcycle to deliver gifts up and down U.S. 1.

“Language is not a factor,” said Pete McKibben, aka “Biker Claus,” who traded in his helmet for a Santa hat while handing out nearly 600 gifts to the children of farm workers and day laborers.

“That costume has no language,” McKibben added. “It’s universal … their smiles said it all.”

For many professional and volunteer Santas, donning the red-and-white suit means not just being able to “Ho Ho Ho” really well, but to be culturally aware of the communities they serve.

At a recent convention of Santas hosted by the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas in California, wannabes brushed up on their Spanish holiday greetings.

“Feliz Navidad,” they practiced. “Que bonitas botas”—what lovely boots.

“We encourage every Santa to individualize or personalize their routine,” said Ric Erwin, national secretary of the fraternal Santas. “Some of these kids have been waiting all year to talk to Santa, you want to make what little time you have with them count.”

Even at the “Harvard of Santa Schools”—the Charles J. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Mich., students get schooled on Santa’s role in different countries.

“We try to make sure all of our Santas catch up on the culture of Santa Claus,” said Holly Valente, admissions director of the 73-year-old school.

During the three-day course, Santas learn while the big man delivers gifts with the aid of his reindeer in the United States, in other countries it’s white horses or a donkey that do most of the heavy lifting.

“It’s very important they know these customs,” Valente said. “That way if a child asks, they’re prepared.”

COMFORTING CREOLE

For Alain Lasontant, a Haitian-American businessman who plays Santa, that means wishing children a “Joyeaux Noel.”

Outside of a Little Haiti storefront last Saturday, kids screamed with excitement as compas music played in the background for a toy giveaway organized by Haitian business owners.

“Speaking Creole makes them feel comfortable,” Lasontant said. “They know that Santa can speak to all children.”

Lasontant, who lives in Miramar, often played Santa for his kids when they were growing up. He was recruited for the Little Haiti toy giveaway by Frantz Devilme, who was looking for a Creole-speaking Santa to put the kids at ease.

“A lot of these kids don’t speak English, they just got here from Haiti with their families, or their parents only speak to them in Creole,” Devilme said. “A lot of them are scared, they’ve never seen Santa up close. Santa has to be able to understand them, and let them know he is only there to bring happiness.”

BILINGUAL SANTA

In Hialeah, the city relies on Spanish speaking staff to play the role of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the city’s annual Santa Snow Blast.

At the event, Santa sauntered onto the stage with the city’s mayor and council members, and greeted kids in the largely Cuban-American city in both English and Spanish.

Malls have also become attuned to hiring a diverse array of Santa candidates during the frenzied holiday shopping season. And if Santa isn’t bilingual, he always has his little helpers to rely on.

“Although our Santa’s not proficient in Spanish, he is supported by several ‘helpers’ who are,” said Anabel Llopis, marketing director for the Aventura Mall.

EVERY COLOR

At the Lauderhill Mall, managers have hired a black Santa for the past 23 years to cater to the surrounding black and Caribbean communities.

“Santa is every color, he speaks every language, and belongs to everyone,” said Cynthia Baker, the mall’s manager. “To tell you the truth, I’ve just always considered Santa a force of love. It doesn’t matter what country he’s from or his language.”

McKibben, aka “Biker Claus,” only knows a few words of Spanish, but that doesn’t stop him from hopping on his motorcycle and leading a caravan of 200 leather clad bikers down U.S. 1 to St. Ann’s Mission in Naranja, where most children speak Spanish.

“Kids have this innocence where they don’t judge,” McKibben said. “They don’t care what Santa looks like.”

For many children, it doesn’t matter what color Santa’s skin is, what his mode of transportation is or what language he speaks, so long as there’s a St. Nick to believe in.

Holding a gift she received during a toy giveaway at Notre Dame d’Haiti Catholic Church last Sunday, Rose Francois, 9, summed it up: “I’ve never seen Santa, but I know he’s there.”