SANTA CLAUS IS SPREADING THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS IN HARTFORD, AND IS CHECKING WHO'S BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE

Santa Claus in the Winterfair

As the days to Christmas are getting closer and the elves in the north pole get busier, Santa Claus has made an early arrival to town, and you better not cry because he is watching who's been naughty or nice. BOCETO MEDIA located Saint Nick in the Winterfair in Hartford, and we asked him for a picture. He checked his list twice to confirm that we were not on the naughty side and so kindly accepted an interview.

 

Every year the spirit of Christmas takes over the world, and John Hiller, a retired landscaper lets the magic transform him into Santa Claus, also known in the city as the Santa Claus of Hartford. 

A New York native Hiller grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He was a landscaping business owner for 41 years, and although the North Pole has a lot of snow, he decided to become Santa because it was fun.  His first experience was at a mall where people waited to take Polaroid pictures with him.

"From that day, I ended up writing a poem about the experience. I once watched a father and his son, you know, the trains moving around and stuff like this, and I feel that Christmas is about spending time with family".

Maricarmen Cajahuaringa, journalist & publisher of BOCETO MEDIA with Santa Claus

Now, as Santa Claus, he tells some of the experiences he has seen through his magical career.   

"I have many experiences. I once had a girl, who was about 12 years old at the G fox winter Wonderland saying that she lost her father overseas in the service, and of course, it caught me off guard. Another experience was when I was working down at the mall in Norwalk, and I had a woman sitting on my lap, and I started bouncing her, and then she started giggling like a little girl. I had a 2 and a half -year-old boy give me his Binky in front of his grandmother and father, and I still carry that. I think that was about the best present Santa could have ever gotten."

Santa Claus in Pratt St. Hartford

Santa travels worldwide to deliver presents; but he and the elves follow the recommendations to stop the spread of the virus by keeping their distance and washing their hands constantly.

"Last year, I was at the grey granite railroad in Glastonbury, and they had a piece of plexiglass between Santa and the visitors. So it was relatively safe. Then at the mall down in Norwalk, they end up getting another Santa because the other one got sick. So, I was behind a piece of plexiglass that looked like a snowball, and it was good up until you had a couple of kids fish kissing it and of course the housekeeping people came by to sanitize the area".

A family visiting the Winterfair in Hartford

The jingle hop has begun, and before you rock the night away, Santa wants to remind you of the real reason to celebrate Christmas.

"I think it's very important that families spend time together. Time is the most precious gift that anyone can give. Put the cellphones down, talk one on one, and enjoy dinner together because life is too short. I wish everyone could help you stay safe and cherish the times you spend with family members, very precious times. Merry Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!”.

Do you have a tip or know something interesting? Email me bocetomediamc@gmail.com  

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