Santa comes to town

'Jingle bells... jingle bells... jingle all the way...Santa Claus comes riding all the way'. 'Hopie Daniells is one such man who has been riding all the way as Santa Claus in the various churches of the city for the past 35 years. Usually a Santa comes on a sleigh, drawn by a pair of reindeer, with his sock full of gifts, but Daniells Santa uses different modes of transport.Ten years ago, he amused people by arriving on a helicopter. “The Anglo-Indian Association decided that it would be interesting to make Santa Claus come on a helicopter,” he says. “I boarded one from the Naval base and landed on the Parade ground in Fort Kochi. Everyone was wonder-struck.” Sometimes he comes on a jeep, at other times in a car or by simply walking and wishing people. Usually, we see Santa with artificial masks but Daniell's specialty is to appear before the public with his original face. “I do not like to wear the mask because it is suffocating,” says Daniells. So, with the help of his make-up man Lenny, he has found a way. Lenny uses various kinds of spirits and paints. It takes three hours time to complete the make-up. “Once the job is done, I feel very itchy, but I have a remedy for that, too,” says Daniells, with a mischievous smile, and remains silent. But after a while, he discloses the secret. “To kill spirits just take another spirit,” he says.Many a time people ask him whether he is wearing a mask. “Last year two sisters from the Infant Jesus church asked whether they could touch my face as they could not believe it is my original face,” says Daniells.Over the years Daniells has had some interesting experiences. Once he went to the terrace of the Abad Hotel Plaza in his costume and stood still as a statue. After a while, he threw chocolates at the children and people who were walking below. “The youngsters were surprised as they thought I was a statue,” he says. “Some thought it was chocolate rain. There was such a commotion below that the police had to be called in to control the traffic.”To get the effect of a real Santa's voice, he uses a cold wet towel around his neck. “The voice can then be disguised,” he says. "The rest depends upon our attitude. If you are not happy, you cannot transfer the same to others.”Every year Daniel buys a new pair of Santa Claus dresses. “The 'santa hair' is specially imported from Australia,” says the 67-year-old.He becomes emotional when he remembers an incident that took place 20 years ago.He met a boy named Murugan, while travelling on a ferry to Fort Kochi. Murugan was asking for alms. “I gave him Rs 20 and asked his name,” says Daniells. “After a couple of months, during Christmas I saw this boy standing outside a church and looking sadly at all the happy boys and girls. I recognised him and called him. As I was in my Santa Claus attire I had to tell him who I was. I brought him inside the church and gave him Rs 100. He burst into tears and said, 'No one has ever showed me such kindness'. I have not seen him since.”It is these kind of incidents that keep Daniells going. “If I am able to light up a single person's life, I will feel my life is not wasted,” he says.aswathy.k@ newindianexpress.com