Spreading happiness is a golden rule that Nick Sammons is adamant in sharing as a professional Santa Claus, a role he has played for 12 years. Being Santa wasn't always on his mind, though. It was one fateful trip to a grocery store that began his journey.
"When my wife and I retired, I just decided that I wasn't going to cut my hair anymore," Sammons chuckled. "So I was shopping for groceries one day and this little girl ran up to me, hugged my leg and said 'I love you Santa Claus.'"
Sammons said the more places he visited, the more people would jokingly tell him that he looked like St. Nick.
He considered the jokes, and after doing some research, came across professional Santa Claus classes. The classes, part of a program started by the "Hollywood Santa," also known as Tim Connaghan, offer a variety of lessons such as bleaching and curling the perfect Santa beard.
"What's fun is to be in Walmart and you see a child look up at you with a sparkle in their eyes," Sammons said. "I often say something fun like 'Oh they moved the reindeer food.'"
He explained that once you make the decision to become Santa, it's a role that stays with you, even if the red suit is put away.
"As a Santa, you really have to think about the image you portray in public. You're never really out-of-character, especially with kids," he said. "You always have to be ready to smile."
Sammons, who now lives in Orange Lake, Florida, said his Santa Claus journey has led him to various malls and events in the Southeast, including the 2019 HoHo Expo in Chattanooga presented by the Times Free Press. And through it all, he admits he has received some peculiar requests.
"I had a little girl whose dad was a doctor, and she came to me with a list of all kinds of medical equipment - from right arm casts and left arm casts, all kinds."
While kids are usually whispering their Christmas wishes to Santa, Sammons said he has dealt with adults, as well. At this year's HoHo Expo, one young man asked if he could take his shirt off for the photo thanks to a dare from the man's future father-in-law.
Other requests can be much more difficult, though.
"Some Christmas messages are not so fun," he explained. "When I was in a Gainesville mall, I had a woman come and tell me that she was diagnosed with glaucoma. I also had a child tell me that she just wants her mom and dad to stop fighting. In those situations, all you can do is offer empathy and tell them that Santa hopes so too."
As we enter a new decade, many kids request high-tech gadgets, but the old standards remain in high demand, according to Sammons.
"Kids still ask for Barbies and Barbie playhouses," he said. "A lot of kids want bikes and Nerf guns. While there are plenty that ask for technology, like phones and tablets, most kids still want those classic toys."
When asked about the most enjoyable aspect of being Santa Claus, Sammons said it mainly consists of celebrating the magic of Christmas with other people.
Whether Sammons is in character at the mall or just out running errands, he said the fun of being Santa never ceases.
"It's a totally different role, unlike any job," he said. "It's making fun for other people and making fun for me, as well."
Contact digital reporter Kiara Green at kgreen@timesfreepress.com.