I always found the idea of Santa somewhat terrifying.
I wanted presents, of course. But in exchange for toys, I was expected to sit on the lap of an aging, overweight stranger in a red suit? I didn’t want gifts that bad.
Still, Santa was synonymous with cheer. He was always delighted to see me, listened closely as I recited evidence of my good behavior and sent me away convinced that everything on my wish list would somehow materialize.
Over time, though, the magic dulled.
Without letters to Santa or my sister and me baking cookies for the man who would later break into our house bearing gifts, belief became harder to sustain. Video game consoles and iPods (this was the early 2000s) gave way to practicalities.
A few years ago, my parents gave me socks and shaving cream: items 8-year-old me would have rejected outright, but 20-something me greeted with genuine gratitude.
It had been a while since I’d last spoken with Santa. We had some catching up to do.
From toys to tech
Rich Lange — “The Carolina’s Premier Santa,” according to his website — has not always worn a red suit and white beard, but he is no stranger to the spotlight. A longtime DJ, improv actor, voiceover artist and professional emcee, Lange brings a performer’s instincts to the role of Saint Nick, skills that prove especially useful when navigating the unpredictable curiosity of children.
“You have to really understand the character and what the expectations are,” Lange said. “To keep the holiday magic alive for them, you have to be on top of your game.”
Over the years, he has watched children’s wish lists evolve. Requests have shifted from traditional toys to technology, with PlayStation 5s, Nintendo Switches and Apple products now topping many lists. Classic toys tied to current movies and television, such as “Barbie,” “Paw Patrol” and “Bluey,” remain popular, though the range of desires can be surprisingly broad.
Some children, Lange said, ask simply “to have a great holiday” or to “be with their families.” Others are less sentimental.
“At least once a year, a kid asks me for a garbage truck,” Lange said. “I don’t know where that comes from, but you know, kids are obsessed with trucks and things that move of all kinds.”
“I had a kid a couple of weeks ago who wanted zip ties.”
While many children arrive prepared with carefully memorized lists, others come armed with questions. Lange said it’s common for kids to wonder whether he is the “real Santa.”
“Instead of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ I put it back on them — I’ll ask them ‘What do you think?’ and ‘What do you know about Santa?,’” which is usually enough to distract them, Lange said.
Not just for kids
Since donning the red suit, Lange has appeared alongside the Charlotte Symphony, marched in the Charlotte holiday parade and popped up in a handful of television commercials. He is also a frequent guest at holiday parties and corporate events, where the role of Santa must be subtly adjusted for an older audience.
“We’re not talking about baseball scores or the stock market, but I am talking to them about what they’re up to for the holidays and what’s going on with their families,” Lange said.
At some corporate gatherings, he surprises parents in attendance with a gift of his own: a personalized video message for their children.
“I make them a custom video with Santa talking to their kids by name. A lot of adults love that because then they’re bringing that Santa magic home with them on the phone.”
In many cases, Lange said, adults are just as eager to see Santa as children are, often lining up to introduce themselves, pose for photos and linger for conversation. Those encounters can stretch on, fueled by childhood memories, long-held traditions or the simple novelty of sharing a laugh with Santa as an adult.
“You run into some bah-humbugs who don’t want to get involved, but for the most part, it’s a really positive experience,” Lange said. “It plays into the whole Christmas spirit thing, which is luckily alive in most people.”
“Santa is the ultimate symbol of Christmas. And people love the Christmas season at all ages. It just brings good feelings and good emotions.”
Reigniting the Christmas spirit
I wasn’t old enough to understand how fortunate I was to meet Santa as a child. For some kids, the visit itself is the gift; for others, even that moment never comes.
Lange is aware of this reality, which is why he is careful never to promise presents.
“I don’t ever lie,” Lange said. “I’m not going to ever tell a kid that I am, or I’m not going to bring them a present. I validate their decision as ‘that’s a great item to be on your list.’”
He describes himself as an “experience designer,” someone more concerned with the emotional weight of the encounter than the transactional logic of a wish list. For many children, Lange understands, meeting Santa is the dream itself, and with that comes a responsibility to deliver the moment with care and intention.
By repeating their questions and listening with genuine focus, he makes sure every child feels seen and heard. His goal is to nurture their sense of wonder and protect the optimism of the season, extending the joy of “believing” for at least one more year.
“It’s really all about that feeling – the excitement that hopefully you felt, and that I felt when we were kids, that excitement of Christmas morning. You know, every other day of the year, you’re sleeping in until 11 o’clock, if you can, but on Christmas you’re up at 5 because you’re so excited about what’s going to happen in the living room. Just helping build on that and extend that feeling as long as possible — for me, what it’s all about.”
Evan Moore
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