SANTA CLAUS, Ind. – The grandsons of two of the more famous men to don Santa Claus suits plan to meet Sunday in this southern Indiana town to sign and dedicate a newly created oath for the jolly gift-givers.
Charles Howard of Albion, N.Y., a famed Macy’s Day Parade Santa, and Jim Yellig, who became known as the “Real Santa” from Santa Claus, met 70 years ago at Santa’s Candy Castle, a Depression-era tourist attraction here.
During Sunday’s ceremony at a refurbished Candy Castle, Howard’s grandson, Charles Bergeman, and Will Koch, the grandson of Yellig, will be the first to sign the document on behalf of their famous grandfathers, the Evansville Courier & Press reported Saturday.
“Not a day goes by here at Holiday World that we don’t hear someone reminiscing about Santa Jim,” said Koch, president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari amusement park in Santa Claus. “Grandpa would have loved to know his legacy continues in this far-reaching way.”
The oath, an attempt to set guidelines for all who portray St. Nick, has eight principles, including this one: “I promise to use my powers to create happiness, spread love and make fantasies come to life in the true and sincere tradition of the Santa Claus Legend.”
The oath will be administered to every Santa attending a convention in Gatlinburg, Tenn., next March.
Yellig’s role lasted 70 years until his death in 1984. It took root during World War I when Navy shipmates throwing a Christmas party for poor kids in Brooklyn, N.Y., elected him to be St. Nick because his hometown of Mariah Hill was near Santa Claus. A casual hobby became a profession in 1946 with the opening of Holiday World-forerunner Santa Claus Land about 35 miles east of Evansville.
Yellig’s daughter, Pat, married into the family that created Santa Claus Land and remains active in running the family-owned park. She said her father believed he was “born to play Santa.”
The oath was written last spring by Phillip Wenz, who makes Santa appearances nationally in addition to being the Jolly Old Elf at a Santa’s Village attraction near Chicago.
Wenz said Yellig and Howard inspired the oath, so it seemed fitting to have the grandsons meet in the “same magical town” where their grandfathers were introduced in 1938.
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