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The big white beard is real and so are the twinkling eyes and the jolly round tummy – Norman McFadyen gets stopped in the street by excited children, whether he’s dressed up as Father Christmas or not.
“When you look like me it’s Christmas every day,” he says.
A career in mental health, including as a psychiatric nurse, along with a range of acting roles gave Norm a love of working with people and spreading joy.
He says he followed in the footsteps of his favourite uncle, Jimmy – a merchant seaman who was a lot like Norm and ended up working as a professional Santa Claus in Miami.
“When I was old (and big) enough I knew Santa would be the ultimate role,” Norm says.
He first played Santa professionally three years ago in the UK and since then it’s been a regular gig, mainly for corporate and private events, including during last year’s America’s Cup in Auckland.
He followed his son to the Hibiscus Coast and has lived here, or hereabouts, for years in between visits back to the UK.
Covid cancelled his Santa engagements this summer, but Norm loves Christmas and decided to bring as much free fun as possible to local children.
He says six to seven months of Santa rehearsals will not go to waste, as he can now put on a show, including music, for the children.
“A lot of the stress adults are feeling is passed onto the children and I want them to just hang out and have fun on the beach. Rather than worry about things we have no control over.”
His ‘pop up Santa stage’ has been at Ōrewa, Arkles Bay and Stanmore Bay in recent weeks and will continue to appear at local beaches and reserves between now and Christmas. Anyone is welcome to come and say hello, or take photos, keeping a social distance. As well as a hearty ‘ho ho ho’, he sings Christmas songs, accompanying himself on the ukulele. A wireless mike is hidden within his beard so he can be clearly heard from a distance.
“Families and communities are so divided at the moment, so more than ever I want to share the Christmas spirit,” he says. “Little children are so excited by Christmas – it’s full of magic and mystery and that’s what we all need a bit of right now.”
At 53 years of age, he says he has plenty of Christmases left in him yet.
As you can imagine, 2021 Santa is active on social media and you can find Norman on Tik Tok and YouTube. All the links are on his website – https://realsanta.co.nz
