Becoming Santa
PROSPECT — Aside from the North Pole, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus have a home in Prospect.
“It's a fun job. It's a tough job,” said Glen Gitzen, 38, who is a professional Santa Claus. “For 10 minutes, I'm the light of their world.”
Gitzen and his mother, Becky, have portrayed Santa and Mrs. Claus for nearly 20 years.
About 20 children experienced their own holiday magic Dec. 16 when they shared their Christmas wishes with the Clauses, who read “'Twas the Night Before Christmas,” sang carols and rang jingle bells during their visit to the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, 373 Main St., a visit hosted by the Prospect Community Library.
This is the second time the mother and son have portrayed the Clauses for the library, kicking off Christmas festivities for families, said Jill Hambley, library director. The Gitzens even visit the library outside of Christmas.
“They are fabulous,” Hambley said. “We love them and the kids love them.”
Sometimes, children tend to be afraid of Santa because he is a figure they have never met, she said. When they are able to see Santa, those fears subside, and they are able to experience the meaning of Christmas.
When not in the suit, Glen works at LandPro Equipment and First Bike Motorsports and Becky is a retiree who takes care of her great-grandchild and works in home health care.Glen first portrayed Santa Claus in high school and purchased his first Santa suit for $20 from Walmart. He continued the work to help pay for college.His first mall job as the iconic figure was at the Clearview Mall in 2005 — the same year his grandmother died of a stroke.His pride and joy is the picture he took with his grandmother on his first day, Glen said.“She said to my mom, 'I want to go see Santa,'” he said, holding back tears. “That was the first time she came to see me, and it was the last.”
The Gitzens continued to portray the Clauses as a tradition at nursing homes, hospitals, private residences, company parties, churches and schools.People in need of a Santa contact Glen, who will meet them at their home or other venue to get a list of the children with names, ages, interests and what they want for Christmas. Those details help Gitzen make Santa's visit personalized for each child.In some cases, he meets with the client to pick up the presents, while other clients leave them in their garages before the visit, he said.He packs the gifts in his red sack, and Becky carries in the rest, Glen said.“That sack's been to a lot of places,” he said.
Christmas magic is created in the 30 minutes it takes Glen to put on the suit and Becky to apply her makeup and throw the red cape over her velvet dress.However, Glen dons the final touches on the way to visits because they make driving difficult, he said.“Basically, we're standing out in the rain or snow getting dressed on the side of the road,” said Becky, who holds up a mirror for her son.When they put on the suits, that's when they change mindsets.“I just have fun and try to get everyone involved — parents, kids,” Glen said, who does not script the act.Instead, his spontaneity keeps him from sounding robotic.Although there have been no catastrophes with his beard, there have been close calls, he said. One time a child could see the facial hair Glen did not shave through the white beard and commented on it.
Children ask more and more for the latest electronics, he said. To prepare, Glen has to research and visit toy stores to brush up on the most popular toys and gadgets.“These kids are smart,” he said, laughing. “They will pick you out. They will pick you apart.”Santa has been asked for kittens, snakes, RV campers and a Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl, he said.Over the years, Gitzens' Naughty and Nice list, protected in a red three-ring binder, has grown, said Glen, who read aloud that Sophia wants a hair dyer and Caleb wishes for a Nintendo DS.One cardinal rule among Santa mannerisms — “Never promise anything. I'll see what I can do,” he said.Among the other tricks of the trade are the jingle bells Glen wears around his wrists.“When I get infants, I can jingle the bells and it calms them down so they can get a picture,” he said.
Aside from the traditional cookies and milk, Santa and Mrs. Claus have received sandwiches, a ham, steaks and holiday ornaments, they said.One of Glen's favorite gifts is an honorary pin from the 911th Airlift Wing in Pittsburgh given to him when he visited Wounded Warriors members and veterans and their families, he said.From tiny babies to grandparents with dementia, everyone has sat on Santa's lap, he said.The two have also announced newborns for couples who want Santa to deliver the news.“That makes us feel good that we're important enough that they have confidence is us,” Becky said.<iframe width="100%" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tPFbZgry_I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Christmas Eve starts at 4:30 p.m., they said. When they stop at traffic lights, Becky waves while people stare from their cars, she said.One of the hardest parts of the night is delivering the gifts on time, Glen said.“I have to be under the gun constantly because I have to get there,” he said. “People are depending on me.”Pictures on their customers' walls and refrigerators document the time the mother and son have spent together and their bond.“Not many parents can say 'I help my son out as Mrs. Claus,'” she said. “It makes it fun.”Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, which is why Santa delivers and helps moms and dads with presents, Becky said.“For me it's the children's laughter,” she said about Christmas. “The surprise on their face that Santa is here and that they get to sit on Santa's lap, it really fills your heart.”Glen said Christmas is about family, especially the memories it creates for grandparents and grandchildren.“The greatest thing is everyone can relate to Santa or everyone knows Santa,” Glen said.Santa Clauses are people with big hearts, Becky said.“There is a Santa Claus,” she said. “I will never say there isn't a Santa Claus.”
Contact Glen Gitzen, professional Santa Claus, at 724-496-9028 or email johndeere528@yahoo.com.
