Santa Claus has spilt the beans on what it really takes to be the ultimate Father Christmas – including rigorous training at ‘school’ where he learns tricks of the trade.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – but before the big day, a team of dedicated Father Christmas hopefuls will be put to work to perfect their festive craft.
This includes Santa Dean Burne from Lincolnshire – one of the UK’s most seasoned men in red.
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For 2025, the focus for the ‘students’ is ‘the five senses of Christmas’: such as what Santa smells, sounds and feels like so that all children – including those with visual or hearing impairments – can feel included.
This will help the trainees create a truly immersive, inclusive experience for every child they meet.
On an intensive training day (20 November), they’ll learn how to perfect a booming laugh and twinkling eye, and to answer tough questions such as: ‘How do you fit down the chimney?’
Or how to gently let a child down when the PlayStation 5 on their wish list might not make it under the tree.
“Sharing Santa style stories is probably 80% of Ministry of Fun’s Santa School – everyone swaps tips, tricks and tales,” Santa Dean, 41, told What’s The Jam.
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“You pick up the best bits from each other.
“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.
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“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.
As part of the training, would-be Father Christmases will be drilled on everything from costume care and hygiene to how to handle awkward moments in the grotto.
Santa Dean said: “We’ll 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.
“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.”
Santa School is described by trainees as a mix between a drama rehearsal, customer service training and festive bootcamp.
Every year they learn improvisation, reindeer lore and even a few bits of magic – using hidden squeakers or light-up thumb tricks to delight children during visits.
Dean said: “It takes rehearsal and skill.
“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.
“You’ve got to read the room fast.
“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.
“We try to make sure that no matter what sense a child relies on most, they can experience the magic in their own way.”
It’s not just about costumes, smells, and bells; Santa School, which is in its 27th year, also teaches recruits how to connect with children on an emotional level.
He 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 more than just the festive season.
It’s about creating joy, wonder and a little magic that children and adults carry with them long after the grotto lights go down.
He added: “If you can leave a child feeling happy, safe and part of something magical, then all the hard work, all the preparation, is more than worth it.
“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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