Where did you make Santa Claus' aquaintance?

[graciegirl]

I first met him on the sixth floor of Lazarus Department store in Columbus, Ohio.

He was surrounded by some lovely "Santa Belles".

I didn't cry, but I was very shy I was later told.

[DougB]

Don't actually remember. Probably Dadeland Mall in Miami, Florida.

[bkcunningham1]

My first memory of meeting jolly old St. Nick was at my father's Kiwanis Club's Christmas dinner for the members' families. Santa gave out presents to the children of the Kiwanis Club members. I have one very, very clear picture in my head of that night. It is almost like a snapshot taken by my mind's eye and your post made me pull it out and wipe off the dust Gracie.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

My family (mom, dad and sisters) were walking down main street in the next town over in December. Ahead was a sidewalk Santa; and when we reached him he greeted us by name and admonished us about our fighting with specifics.
We kids were shocked and instantly became true believers.

Many years latter as adults we found out that the man who played Santa worker with my father and dad fed him the naughty things we had done.
But still and all I still believe.

[ettojr]

Mom took us from the Bronx down to the flagship Macy's Herald Square. The resulting picture, long since missing, is of me with a look of absolute terror. I was a month short of turning 2yrs old, so December 1957. Santa and I have patched things up since then.

[2newyorkers]

I think mine was at the Bayshore/ Brightwaters ambulance annual Christmas Party.

[redwitch]

Not sure I ever met Santa. In Germany, we had St. Nicholas but he and Schwarzen Peter were never visible -- you left your shoe out in Dec. 6 and goodies (usually fruit, nuts, a wallet with a little money) or yuckies (coal and switches) were left in the shoe. On Christmas Eve, you went to services and when you got home, the Christmas tree was up and lit with one gift beneath it from the Krist Kind (Christ Child) thanking you for your year of devotion and love.

From Germany, it was Russia, the Middle East and the Far East, then the US. Santas were not too common in any of these places (nor was Christmas unless we were on base or in the embassy).

Do remember seeing store Santas in the US and not getting who or what they were but really was too old to buy into the Santa story by then. Absolutely refused to have my picture taken with this fat man in the ugly red suit.

I still miss our German way of celebrating Christmas.

[DianeM]

Macy's Herald Square and I still have the picture.

[SALYBOW]

Sixth floor of Shillito's in downtown Cincinnati, Oh.

[zcaveman]

When I caught him kissing my mother under the mistle toe!!!

Z

[BS Beef]

Here. After looking in the store front windows at the winter wonderland scenes and then spending time in "Toy Land"!!!

[skyguy79]

My recollection was that it was at Montgomery Wards in Menands NY. (picture below from around 1948) I later worked in that Wards store. I was in their central credit department while at the same time fully matriculated in college - evening division. Incidentally, did you know that Rodolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was created by Robert L. May, for a Montgomery Wards coloring book back in 1939?

[DougB]

And May's brother-in-law wrote the song.

[renielarson]

My only memory of meeting Santa was at Sears Roebuck. I remember the encounter vividly. I was not afraid, waited in line patiently, then sat on his lap and told him what I wanted for Christmas...although I can't remember what I wanted. LOL

[Mudder]

Wannamakers Dept store, Philadelphia, 3rd floor in Toyland.

[kittygilchrist]

My son was preschool. Santa at Walmart. Going home: "that was just somebody dressed up in suit like big bird. did you see that he had cardboard painted black on top of his shoes and those were not real boots?"

[BritParrothead]

I met Santa, in a tiny department store, in the north of England. I had watched the shop staff building something behind large dark curtains. My mum would not tell me what it was, it was secret :) Then, about the second week of December Santa came to town, in a fabulous coach. It was really lovely. Then I was taken to see him. We were given lovely little gifts to put on the Christmas tree. I was 4 years old and still remember. It was lovely.
I took my boys to Harrods for their first Santa. Not as pleased as I thought they would be, hey ho. :coolsmiley:
BUT, Christmas is still their favourite time of year. We will have 12 or 14 for dinner, my sons friends always come to eat with us. A nice time had by all :)

[Villages PL]

I was about 3 or 4 years old and I was at home with my older brothers. They didn't appear to believe in Santa but they were telling me about him. They said he would come to put gifts under the Christmas tree. The way they were telling me made me feel somewhat skeptical.

All of a sudden there was a knocking at the back door. My mother opened the door and in came my father dressed in a santa suit. It was a nice suit and beard, very professional. So he sat down and put me on his lap. As he started talking to me I said, Dad! I know it's you! And everyone started laughing, including me.

[Yung Dum]

Some department store in Brooklyn. I was terrified and have pictures to prove it.

[travelguy]

The real Santa Claus was always found at The Store, located on Allentown Road outside of Lansdale, PA. I knew that he was the real one because he was old and his beard was genuine. And I never saw him around until the Christmas holidays were near. And I was around 7 years old so of course he was REAL!

[quirky3]

I don't remember what store it was, but I do remember that Santa had bad breath!

[Villages PL]

I don't remember what store it was, but I do remember that Santa had bad breath!

That's funny. He should have been fired for that. Who ever heard of a store Santa having bad breath? He should have been reported to the manager.;)

[billethkid]

I actually never "met Santa", but I know what ever I put in my letters to him always wound up under the tree....the tree by the way was not there when we went to bed Christmas Eve....but there it was magically the next morning with our gifts.

I always told my mother I would rather write to the real Santa instead of going to see one of his helpers at the Boston Store in Erie, PA.

We carried the tradition of no tree up until Santa did it Christmas eve through 5 of our own!!!!

btk

[Lbmb24101]

Redwitch, yes all thebyrs teaching French in school, i thought the Dec6 tradition is beautiful

I first met Santa in 1966, right after we had left Cuba and arrived in PR.
It was an inflatable Santa from the Esso gas station...all the previous yrs it had been the Three Wise Men who brought s gifts, not Santa.
When mom and dad exiled to Puerto Rico, then we had both, the American and Spanish traditions! ( gifts on dec 25 AND Jan 6)
Great times!

[2BNTV]

I don't remember what store it was, but I do remember that Santa had bad breath!

:1rotfl: Very funny stuff. :smiley: