A professional Santa Claus has revealed the extreme measures he and fellow Father Christmases go to in order to make every child’s experience magical.
Dean Burne is a seasoned man in red.
The 41-year-old, from Lincolnshire, assists the real Saint Nic at a ‘Santa School’ that has been running for 27 years.
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And the recruits are certainly put through their paces.
“It takes rehearsal and skill,” Santa Dean told What’s The Jam.
“You’ve got to be quick-thinking, gentle and ready for anything – from a toddler’s tantrum to a question about the North Pole postal system.
“The key is to make every visit feel personal.
“One child might want to tell you their whole life story; another just wants a photo and to bolt.
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“You’ve got to read the room fast.
“We’ll [also] certainly be drilling our Santas about hygiene and not smoking.
“There’s nothing worse than having a Santa who smells of fags and has children sitting on his knee.
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“We talk about that at a basic level but it’s vital.
“You’re up close with families, so everything from your beard to your breath matters.”
Every year, the group learn improvisation, reindeer lore and even a few bits of magic – using hidden squeakers or light-up thumb tricks to delight children during visits.
For 2025, the focus ‘the five sense of Christmas’.
Dean said: “This year, we’re focusing on inclusivity and on the senses – what Santa smells like, feels like and sounds like.
“For children who might not see or hear so well, that’s really special.
“We want every visit to feel real, for the child to see, hear, touch and smell Christmas all around them.
“Some Santas use aftershave that smells like cinnamon or cherry, others spray their suits with a Christmassy scent.
“When a child leans in for a hug, they get that warm festive smell.
“Sound is a big one – you can’t creep up on anyone when you’ve got bells all over your costume, and I’m always wearing them!
“Kids love hearing you before they see you.
“Touch is important, too: the velvet suit, the fluffy beard, the gloves.
“For children with visual impairments, those textures mean everything.
“We even talk about how the grotto should feel – the lighting, the warmth, the sparkle.
“You want it to be cosy, not clinical.”
On an intensive training day (20 November), each Santa learns how to perfect their booming laugh and twinkling eye, and to answer tough questions such as: ‘How do you fit down the chimney?’
Dean said: “We also always go over the top learning about toys of the year.
“From Super Soakers to PlayStations, so we know what they look like, how big they are and how much they cost.
“You’ve got to be ready for anything a child might ask.
“You never say no and you never really say yes unless you get a nod from the adults.
“What Santa says carries a lot of weight – you can’t go promising a PlayStation 5 if the parents can’t afford it.”
It’s not all ho-ho-ho and jingle bells – Ministry of Fun’s Santa School is serious business.
Dean said: “Sometimes children will blurt out something heartbreaking – maybe a family has had a tough year or a beloved pet has passed away.
“You have to be sensitive, gentle and help them leave with a happy memory rather than a sad one.
“All the training, all the sensory details – it’s to make the child feel fully immersed.
“They’re not just meeting Santa; they’re stepping into a Christmas world crafted for them.”
For Dean, being Santa is about creating joy, wonder and a little magic that children and adults carry with them long after the grotto lights go down.
He added: “You realise that Christmas is not just presents.
“It’s the sitting around the fire, watching a favourite show, spending time together – and if one of us Santas can be part of that memory.
“It’s amazing.”
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