Origin Story

I began my Santa journey in 2018 while working full-time as an operations manager for a mental health clinic in Long Island, NY. I was one of the very few guys and the largest that worked in the office. Every year the clinic would have a Christmas party for the children that are clients in our agency. Most do not have enough money for Christmas presents or have never seen Santa Claus in person. So I was elected to put on a very hot red fluffy suit and be Santa for the parties.

When I first arrived, I knew I wouldn't know many of the children as I had not met most of them. I was extremely nervous. Once I put on the suit and beard, the nervousness seemed to melt away. I honestly turned into a kid at heart. When I entered the room and yelled “Ho Ho Ho”, I saw every child turn around with a huge smile on their face and run towards me. Not one child knew who I was or even cared that I was the Operations Manager. All they cared about was seeing Santa.

The Dj started playing music. I love to dance and seeing the children grab my hands and start to dance, made it truly magical. After the event was over, I had a couple of parents and coworkers ask me to come to their houses and make a personal visit. That was even more terrifying, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

in 2019 I did the same thing and I also made a little extra money doing the home visits in tips. I thought “ WOW I can get paid to do this also?” I couldn’t wait until the next season. Little did we know…. COVID began. That put all Holiday celebrations on hold and I thought that was the end of my Santa career. Once COVID began to die down, things started to come back to normal and people began asking if Santa was available. So I started the Holiday season in August of 2022 by helping a friend on Facebook do a beach photoshoot.  Boy was I dying in that red fluffy suit in the middle of the August heat. I decided if I was going to do this, I needed another suit.

I didn’t know there were Facebook groups for Santa, let alone an entire Santa Community. I began joining groups and learning so much from them. I noticed in one group that a Santa was retiring and selling off his entire collection. I bought it all and owned my first professional Santa suit. I noticed it was a little cooler, but not by much. I decided to take a few pictures with it on and the calls started coming in. I was even interviewed by a local news station about the shortage of Santa. “A shortage?? I didn’t know there was a shortage?” I was getting calls at least 8 times a day to be Santa.

In March of 2023, I decided to work on the art of being Santa and attended my first Santa School in Charlotte, NC. There I learned a lot more than just sitting in a chair to take pictures. I learned of the many props and supplies needed to be a successful performer. Before going to Charlotte, I had made friends with a costume designer from that area and asked for a “Show Stopper” of an outfit. While I was down in Charlotte, I met with her and was able to pick up my first custom outfit. It was super heavy and I knew I needed something to keep me cool.

In May of 2023, I attended The Northeast Santa Gathering in Cape Cod, Mass. I went into the vendor room and decided to add more supplies to my collection and came across Thermapparel. Once I heard the benefits of the product and how it worked, I was sold. The next day was the formal event and I pulled out the “Showstopper” for the event. I forgot to put the cooling vest on and Julia had seen I was sweating profusely and about to pass out. She reached down into a cooler and pulled out the Cooling Packs and put the vest on me. If I wasn’t a believer before, I was now. Since that event, I have not only used the vest for Santa events. But I have also worn it to work and when I am working outside in my gardens or mowing the lawn. I recently let my priest at church borrow it and she has fallen in love with having it under her vestments.

I have now formed my own business with the name SantaJohnm631 and have jumped full in with being Santa 365 days a year. I have a red car, most of my clothing is red and when I hear someone yell Santa, in the off-season, I just turn and touch my nose, move my finger to my mouth as if to say, “Yes it's me, but Santa is on vacation and is still watching” I have no idea where this journey will take me, but it's the most fun I have ever done.

Reach out to Santa John:

Web: SantaJohn631.com
Facebook: SantaJohn631
Gig Salad: Santa John Mastic Beach 
Phone: (631) 682-3623