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Portland Santa
This adorable baby is cooperating nicely with Santa Phil. Others do NOT.
The life of a mall Santa is steeped in hopes and dreams, magic and wonder. But the jolly sorts who are drawn to this vocation soon learn that the job involves other things. Unspeakable things. Things like snot, spit, diaper leakages — and worse.
In the line of duty, one beloved longtime Santa in Oregon’s Portland area has contracted pink eye. He’s survived encounters with terrified (read: urinating) pets. Above all, he’s learned that frightened children warrant the most trepidation.
“We used to have a stage, with a couple of steps to get up onto the stage,” recalled 71-year-old Phil Morgan, known year-round by locals as “Santa Phil.” “We had some kids who were so scared — they’d hit the first step, hit the second step, then, bam! Lose the contents of their stomachs.”
Other kids are screamers — and their shrieks of terror don’t match their stature. They could be rehearsing for the shower scene in “Psycho.” The key screamer demographic: 2.5- to 4.5-year-olds.
“Sometimes they really freak out,” Santa Phil said. “They get within sight of me and MELT DOWN. It’s overwhelming to them. There’s this big guy, the suit, the lights, all the people — they just lose it.”
Traumatized by Santa Claus? Send us your photos!
Mall Santas also must field impossible requests with kindness and tact.
“One little girl came up to me and said she wanted me to arrange for her to do a violin recital in Carnegie Hall,” Santa Phil recalled. “I said very carefully, ‘I’ll see what I can do.’ She said, ‘If you can’t arrange it, then I’d like a pet octopus.’”
For parents, a visit to the mall Santa is a moment for a cute photo op. But for some kids, it can be a moment of pure terror.
Santa all year long
Mind you, Santa Phil is a serious pro. He landed his first Santa gig back in 1958 when he was a high school senior working in the stock room at a JC Penney store.
“Santa didn’t show and they said, ‘You! Get in the suit!’” he said. “That was the beginning of my career!”
He balks at the notion that he “plays” Santa. In short, Santa Phil is Santa. He grooms his flowing, natural white beard all year long, and, as he puts it, he kind of has “that shape.” Even in the middle of summer, his presence tends to spark squeals and excited whispers — especially if he wears a red shirt.
“In restaurants, little kids start freaking out with their parents because St. Nick is sitting at next table!” he said.
He estimates he’s served as Santa on a professional basis for about 35 of the past 54 years. For a number of those years, he dazzled kids and adults at a fanciful Santaland created inside a Meier & Frank store in downtown Portland. The store became a Macy’s in 2006.
For the first time last year, Santa Phil’s employer — Portland Santa — brought the magic outside. Portland Santa crafted a custom-built house where fans could visit with Santa Phil and his fun-loving colleague, Santa Tom, in Portland’s Pioneer Courtyard Square. Santa Phil will be based there once again this month.
“I call this my December vacation from real life,” said Santa Phil, who spends the rest of the year working as a teacher and therapist for adults.
Portland Santaland on Facebook
Santa Phil and his jolly colleague — Santa Tom, pictured here — will be greeting children and adults in downtown Portland this year. They say they totally understand if kids act a bit startled.
‘I will do my best’
As you might expect, the bulk of Santa Phil’s December encounters are heartfelt and hilarious. He gets requests for everything from Xboxes to American Girl dolls to elaborate family portraits featuring Chihuahuas, ferrets or pet turtles. On multiple occasions, he’s been asked to present an engagement ring to an unwitting bride-to-be.
Many visitors love him so much they’ve become regulars. In fact, some female pals in their 60s, 70s and 80s have established a full-fledged Santa Phil tradition.
“Every year, they go out to dinner, get a little tipsy, then come to take pictures with Santa,” Santa Phil said. “They tell me what kind of Mercedes they want — stuff like that!”
The most energizing thing about the job is that children believe in him. As a consequence, they often open up to him.
“I’ve had kids ask me for things for their parents because their parents are stressed out because their parents don’t have any money,” Santa Phil said.
Brian Ach / AP
See the many ways St. Nick spreads holiday cheer around the world.
One time, two adorable girls clambered up onto Santa Phil’s lap as their dad handed him a cell phone.
“He told me, ‘Mom’s on the other end,’” Santa Phil recalled. “’She can’t be here because she’s at home dying of cancer.’”
Another time, years ago, a homeless woman approached him and asked to sit on his lap.
“She didn’t smell very pleasant but she had this great, toothless smile,” Santa Phil said. “She said, ‘Santa, can you get me a safe place to stay?’ ... I said, ‘I will do my best.’ I had to let it go at that.”
Over the decades, Santa Phil has learned how to listen and how to adapt. He knows the importance of rolling with any encounter — no matter how preposterous, how gut-wrenching or, if nervous tummies are involved, how gut-spilling.
“My philosophy of life is that I came into this world to find joy for myself and to help people find joy for themselves,” Santa Phil said. “This is my chosen way of doing it.”
Want to meet Santa Phil and his colleague, Santa Tom? You can visit them from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 23 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 in Pioneer Courtyard Square in downtown Portland, Ore. For details, go to PortlandSanta.com.
Have an amazing photo of your child reacting to Santa? Submit it here and we may feature it later this month on TODAY.com!
More:
- Your cute kids: Scared silly by Santa
- Ho-ho-high-tech: Kids send digital wish lists to Santa's inbox
- Michael Buble: Why I still believe in Santa Claus
- Should Santa have a real beard? One store says no
Leave a Comment:
pretty good gig.....the Santa at the mall in town here's been doing it for years.....he looks real too.....the one in Stamford (CT) mall
I am getting great gifts for less than $15 by doing some of
the work myself. I am making everyone homemeade spice mixes, wrapping them in decrorative baggies, and then giving them with a copy of the cookbook the mixes came from.. it's a little unpc, and not for everyone, but to find the book and the spice recipes, just google "whipped and beaten culinary works" and you will find it. but. seriously.. skip it it you can't take a joke..
I played Santa for three Christmas seasons in a row at a popular tourist attraction. Some of the kids were bratty, some were scared and some were downright adorable. One little boy almost made me cry when he asked if Santa could keep the paper mill open so his Daddy could still have a job. I told him, "Santa's not sure he can do that. Is there anything else you'd like?" (We were told to always refer to Santa in the third person. Never use I or me.) The little kid thought for a minute and said, "I'd really like a scooter!" I looked at the Dad behind him, who was nodding and I told him to be a good boy and Santa might just be able to do that.
That little boy restored my faith in humanity.
I liked the story. Santa is always being an attraction for all the people at Christmas season. We feel like some divine Christmas wishes are coming even a fake Santa blessed us with any of Christmas wishes. I am very thankful to you for saying those words to that kid. I remember one of the Christmas wishes ref www.christmaswishes.info specially for you - The Blessings of Peace
The Beauty of Hope
The Spirit of Love
The Comfort of Faith
May these be your gifts this Christmas Season. Merry Christmas..
Good for him! It takes a special kind of person to pull off being "Santa". I'm sure he has made many children happy.
said Santa Phil, who spends the rest of the year working as a teacher and therapist for adults.
Must be awful tough to live through a lie... Bah humbug...
Very neat story. Wish we had one of those here in Fresno, CA. One that loved the job so much he'd be a town fav for 50 years. Something to really look back on for the kids as they got older -- almost like a lifelong family doc (which there aren't many of those left either.)
This is our Santa! He really is a wonderful man and we were so glad that he and Santa Tom found a way to be there for our son and all of the Portland-area kids after Macy's put the last nail in the coffin of a long-standing Christmas tradition.
Thank you Santa Phil! We will see you soon!
I love articles like this. Did the Santa pix when my boys were little - one year my twins looked like they just had their arms ripped off they were screaming so loud - in stereo - and my oldest was sitting in front with this fake smile the whole time. Now that they're all grown, it's a classic we show their kids!
I am a real old thang and I love to see Santa in all his hairy splendor! Beards rock!
santa phil is my father, not only is he the portland santa during the season. his love and kindness shine all year long.....for him,
santa is apart of who he is...he brings joy into the hearts of many....he is a blessing for all of us...
I recently moved to AZ. But lived in Vancouver for many years. I remember seeing Santa Phil every year at Vancouver Mall. What a surprise to see him in an article.
Yes Phil Morgan!! I did my detective work and everything on this story checks out with one exception? You can't be a member of this network since 12/20/2012 Please make the correction and then you are free to go. When I see Santa Phil in Portlandia this season I will tell him you have been a good girl even though you are far away.....Merry Christmas ( ( ( ( ( (
Fond memories of Santa at Daytons dept store in Mpls in the 50's. I was about 5 with two brothers and two sisters, ...mom taking us downtown to see Santa. All the way down there my older sister kept repeating Santa is not real and she was going to pull his beard off. Mom kept trying to whack her while mom was driving and Nancy was in the back seat. Well we got there stood in line just like the movie in "Christmas story" The whole time Nancy threatening to pull his beard off to prove it. Finally our turn, me and my youger sister sitting on Santa's lap, Tom and Bill on each side, and Nancy refusing to get in the picture, Mom saying wait til I get you home Nancy Jean....when moms use the middle name, you know there will be hell to pay. Yep, Santa asked Nancy what she wanted for Christmas, and Nancy said "you're drunk...P..U...you stink" Santa asked her again, what do you want for Christmas? Nancy said "I want your beard, you're a phony!" and yanked it off in front of the little women elves and all the children in line. She would not let go of the beard, Santa and mom yelling at her to give the beard back, Nancy hiding behind the huge chair, children screaming, some were crying, Nancy running around with the beard, the women elves dressed up in their green outfits trying to give my sister candy canes for the beard... Mom caught her. Santa put the beard back on and they took the famous picture...without Nancy in it. As we left, older kids were laughing and the younger ones were crying......and the rest of us still pretended we believed in Santa........because you always got more gifts when you were little ...from Santa.....As for Nancy, she had to wash dishes for two weeks until mom found out Nancy broke half of the dishes she washed.....The famous "rooster dishes".......The grinch sister is still as crabby as she was as a kid......
Stop Lying to Your Children
(Regarding Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the like)
No lie is of The Truth... Yet young children are of the truth, and remain with Me and in Me. Even now I call to them, for My lambs know My voice... And that which came from Me, must soon return to Me.
Therefore, strive according to the Truth and that love, which I am. And in no way speak lies to your children, for this is sin. Rather feed them with The Bread from Heaven, the bread which I am... The Way, The Truth, The Life. For this alone is pleasing to God. Anything to the contrary is of the world and the evil one, no matter its disguise... Says The Lord.
#Stop_Lying_to_Your_Children
Stop lying to children? Then stop telling them there's a god. At least Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the like deliver. No god ever has.
To Jerry: I feel sorry for your soul. Must be rough going through life with no meaning or hope for eternity. Whether you know it or not, believe it or not, we will all die and face our Maker. Hopefully you'll change when you are on your death bed.
TRUMPET WOW! I was born and raised in the church, but you take delusional to a whole new level. By the way, do some research it is wildly known Jesus was not born during or around December 25, just like Santa it is symbolic and Modern Christianity attached itself to that date. Saint Nichols was for certain a living breathing individual who tried to do good and show love on this earth. Quite on like your juvenile and condescending rants. If God is real, he will condemn man, and he will not need your feeble and hateful help. Hopefully, Santa's love and the concept of helping others will fill your sad existence over the holiday season. The Jesus you speak of protected the prostitute from being stoned from people like you. These modern holidays while over marketed are about thinking of others and family. Even though man falls short, as fallible human beings, we should still understand that concept. Finally, Christianity has attached itself to existing pagan rituals and renewals more than any other practiced religion; so once again read other books and do some research before you expose your hate and ignorance. Your narcissism is obvious, by the way, by not using your name but God's in your online moniker.
@Justice: Let Jerry think what he wants, obviously he doesn't believe in that, but don't judge how his life is because you do not know anything about his life, you are not him.
I don't have a soul for you to feel sorry for, and neither do you. My life has a great deal of meaning and hope, even with some of its rough going, and I'm still here, happy, content and always having fun giving it to superstitious people. However, I feel sorry for you, finding meaning in your life only through some false belief in some hobgoblin who'll "reward" you with pie-in-the-sky after you think you've appeased it enough to counteract all the miserry and rough going you've been going through. When you die, just like everyone else, you won't meet your maker (who happen to be your parents), or anyone else because you'll be dead, your existence over, nothing remaining. Does that frighten you to the point where you need some ridiculous belief in a spook and pearly gates? Then you need to get some help. I hope you find it.
THUS SAYS THE LORD:
These modern holidays, Christmas, Easter and Halloween, are an abomination in the eyes of The Lord God Almighty! Therefore I shall destroy all pagan traditions, even every perverse holiday of men!... Behold! I shall wipe them from the face of the whole Earth, on that day! FOR I AM THE LORD, AND I AM COMING DOWN TO MAKE A SWIFT END!... And no more shall you break My Commandments, and revel in sin, in The Son’s name.
Behold! My countenance has turned against you! Says The Lord of Hosts.
For you have blasphemed the name of Christ!...
You and your detestable idols! Your false worship!
Your misuse of My name and The Christ’s!...
Your vanities, your greed,
Your envies, your lusts,
Your drunkenness,
Your gluttonous appetites...
Your fornications!...
Your false witnessing,
Lying to your children...
Your covetousness, your thefts...
And your murders! Even causing many to destroy themselves!...
BEHOLD! ALL YOU DO IS ADULTERY AGAINST YOUR GOD!
Have I not given you Holy Days, in which you were to honor My Son? Yet you forget them all, even the seventh day of each week, which you were to remember and keep holy. For I, The Lord, do not change... What do all these traditions of men have to do with Me?! And why do you them in The Son’s name?! Give the gift of His name, for by His name alone are you saved! There is no other!
Stop these vain babblings therefore! You speak these things in ignorance of the Truth! Shut your mouths! Cease from all this blasphemy!... Be silent before your God, and speak to Me in spirit.
Know you not, that you have all become as the pagan and the heathen, by which all your holidays have their origins? Abomination! This world has seduced you, and the harlot has led you into temptation by her false witness!... Behold! She shall be left utterly desolate and naked! Her flesh shall be eaten and consumed by fire! She shall be destroyed under judgment! Crushed beneath the feet of The Holy One of Israel! Broken because of her iniquities!... And put to death because of her denial of the Truth, which she had replaced with the many cups of her fornications!... Thus she shall surely drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation!
Thus says The Lord God: One Commandment broken are all Commandments broken; one sin, reveled in My name, are all sins accounted to you; one sin, repented in The Christ’s name, all are forgiven you. For I know your hearts, My children, and I know whether or not you have become fully converted in spirit... You can not lie to your God.
Come to Me therefore, in all truth and supplication,
By Him who I had sent to you in Truth...
Being The Truth Absolute, utterly void of darkness...
HE IS THE LIGHT!...
By Him shall you walk into life!
HE IS THE WAY!...
The only name under Heaven,
By which you must be saved!...
Walk in Him, and you shall find Me.
[]
Get over yourself.
You are a religious fanatic. Save it for your family & church, They are the only ones that care in your religious spewing!!!!
No one cares about your fictional, vicious, cruel, vile, vitriolic, hobgoblin god. We dropped a house on it. Splat!
They sure don't want to hear the Truth. Truth hurts - don't it?!
Please tell me where the bible says this. I did not see an actual verse or chapter. I have been through the bible many times and study it on a regular basis, yet I have never read anything of this sort. Please let me know where you quoted this so that I can look it up.
Phewwwwww, I'm so close to being saved. Now for my total salvation, do I leave the stick in my rear end or can I take it out for bed?
I don't remember my "spending time on Santa's lap", but I do wander why parent's want to traumatize their children just to get a traditional picture. Wait til the kids want to go to Santa, don't force them! Geez talk about cruelty.
Now I've heard everything what idiot takes their animal to see santa, the stores should ban this. Oh I forgot they need the money from this ding dongs.. If it were me the 1st time some one came up with a dog I would say" this is for children ONLY, no job is woth an animal deficating on me!!! "
Spliter01 "no job is woth an animal deficating on me!!! "
Disagree with you, like so many people in this world you have no love or respect for animals, does it make you feel powerful? Learn how to spell. Dogs and cats may be able to do that better than you can. You sound like a miserable Scrooge! Nevertheless, Happy Holidays. Watch the movie "A Christmas Carol", maybe you will see things in a new light...God help you.
I don't think you can take any animals in the malls anyway, so maybe they had it outside so they could?
I would love for my pet to sit on Santa, my wee bitty turtle.
I don't think that any child would be crying and screaming if they were sitting on the lap of Jesus. Santa is a merchandising tool. That's it. Nothing more. Christmas is supposed to be what we puny ants celebrate the Birth of Jesus. It has become so gross it is not even identifiable anymore. Oh! By the way....Merry Merchants Day! Who says the Jews don't run everything?
TO Robin: You are very ignorant and miserable. From your comments you don't seem to be a Christian; if you are it's in name only. Why don't you crawl back into your cave, and let the little people enjoy this tradition. I'm sorry whatever your parents did to you as a small child, but you are an adult now. Get some therapy.
If I was sitting on the lap of Jesus that means im dead.................... I can wait behind Robin...
It would be the same if it was Jesus, a marketing and promotional tool used by religious communities the same way its used by malls all over the US.
Also if it was Jesus at bet most kids wouldn't want to sit on the lap on this hippie looking guy.
Plus there is no tradition I believe of sitting on Jesus lap to begin with like there is with Santa.
I remember smoking with Santa after his shift at the mall as a young teenager.
Santa was enjoying his pipe and drew my curiosity.
Say, Santa, whats that your smokin in yer pipe?
Ho, HO young man; as he handed me his pipe.
I`ve never played Santa, but I think that I would love it. I have a natural large white beard and I`m built like Santa. The black on my beard in the picture is a shadow, It`s all white . Kids think I`m Santa when I`m dressed in regular clothes. The only thing is, that I have shoulder length dark brown hair, but that doesn`t seem to bother them. I really think that you ought to have a real beard if you want to be Santa.
In grade school I was 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. My dad was an architect and acting president of the school board. At school we were directed down the hallway to go and see Santa......I crawled up into Santas lap, looked him in the eyes and said " Hi Uncle Richard"!! lol
Love this story. Just goes to show you that Christmas isn't about material things. This story is what its all about. That father had to be so proud of his son. Merry Christmas!
as his daughter i can tell you I hope that his father is proud. My taid, or grandfather passed away while my father was young..but as his daughter I can tell you that we are all proud that he shows great kindness to all. He has passed on that we should care about all with out judgement... open heart is what its all about... peace love faith and kindness is what he has given....
(David N.'s wife here.) Wishing Santa Phil A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I feel he has most certainly earned it.
I have a picture of my boys and Santa Tom. I treasure it! The boys were entranced.
I love Christmas and I love Santa. And to the religious out there who are stressing the wrath of the almighty over the secularization thing, I think Scrooge said it best. "You keep Christmas in your way, and let me keep it in mine!" My only problem with this story is I have some issue with parents who insist on putting kids on Santa's lap who are clearly terrified. It isn't cute; it borders on abusive. Plenty of kids love to sit on his lap, don't traumatize the little ones for the sake of a stupid picture that will end up in the bottom of the decoration box next year. Season's greetings all.
I'm thumbing my nose at all the nay sayers. Get a decent life!
YOU ROCK SANTA!!!!!
My parents told me the truth when I was a young kid when I asked why we don't get presents from santa. They told me santa was fake there is no santa. I'm glad they told me the truth cause my kids get the same truth. My parents taught me that the truth is more important than making your kids believe in something that does not exist. We give gifts all year round and we enjoy it. I have read the bible and if you understand it Jesus was not born on Dec. 25th. Everyone has their own religion and raise their children in their own way.
At my Dads MEG(Miller Environmental Group) Christmas party for work they hired the real Santa Claus, this guy legally changed his name to it and he sports some very nice red robes and his beard is nice too, looks like the same Santa that are in books and movies, boy does he put on a show. He even laughs like Santa when you know he couldn't have planned it at the time, it was very awe inspiring.
I saw his license and Debit card, both said Santa Claus on it.
Bugsy must not have been a good boy, because I got presents from Santa when I was a kid. In fact, Santa gave all the really cool stuff and my parents just gave me socks and clothes. Santa Rocks! I raised my kids to love santa and even though now they are adults, we still have presents from santa under the tree. Makes Christmas all the merrier. Rock on, Santa.