|
Written by Mike Blackerby
|
|
Friday, 20 March 2009 15:59 |
|
This from the files of http://www.knoxnews.com --- Hundreds Gather in Gatlinburg to Honor St. Nick, Mrs Claus
by MIKE BLACKERBY, Knoxville, Tennessee News-Sentinel; Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. In fact, lots of them.
Several hundred incarnations of the legendary figure were featured in the hour-long Parade, which was held in conjunction with the Celebrate Santa Convention.
The Parade was the major showcase of the the 3-day convention, a gathering and exposition for those who portray jolly old Saint Nicholas, Mrs. Claus and Santa's Elves.
According to Celebrate Santa Founder/Coordinator Joe Moore, the combined Parade and Convention attracted between 600 and 700 people from 39 U.S. States and three Canadian Provinces. There was even at least one Mrs. Claus from Australia.
Moore explained that the workshops
are for the benefit of those who wish to embellish their personification of the Clauses and their Elves --- and, by so doing, bring joy and happiness to children of all ages through their portrayals.
"This is a celebration of Santa and Mrs. Claus and everything that they do for the children all over the world," proclaimed the 54-year-old Moore, who co-founded Celebrate Santa in partnership with his wife, Mary.
The large crowds that lined the downtown streets were treated to a very rare Christmas in March, as hundreds of white-bearded men wearing red coats, white-cuffed red trousers and black leather belts and boots passed by, offering holiday well wishes and handing out trinkets.
Mrs. Claus was also well represented in the Parade, which featured Elves, Leprechauns, floats, decorated wagons, carriages, antique cars --- and even Santa's spectacular CyberSleigh.
Not-so-tiny 300-lb. reindeer Comet and Cupid also walked the Parade route, led along by Father Christmas, otherwise known as their owner, Bill Lee, 59, from Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Lee has portrayed the European version of Saint Nicholas for nearly 30 years. "Many years ago, somebody saw me in a restaurant and said: 'You've got blue eyes and a twinkle in your eye --- and you would be a great Santa for us in our school play,' " he recalled.
Lee portrays Father Christmas several times a year at different events across the country, while raising his reindeer --- he tries to keep nine of them on hand at all times, of course --- at his Laughing Valley Ranch.
While those appearances are all great fun, Lee said, the primary reason that he does it is, needless to say, for the kids.
Moore, who himself has been a Santa for the last 8 years, says that he plans to make both the Parade and the Convention an annual event in Gatlinburg. The first official Santa Claus Convention was held in New York City in 1939, and the meetings have taken place sporadically in the intervening years.
"There has been no consistency to this over the years," Moore explained. "We wanted to find a way to make certain that we could make a real home for it. And to do that, we wanted to find a way to raise the bar with this --- hence, our theme 'Reach Higher Ground.' "
|
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:36 |
