BEIJING'S BEST SANTA

While kids across the city wonder how Santa will get into their chimney-less apartment blocks this month, Christmas came early for dozens of Beijingers in November. Not just one Santa, but eight men in red-and-white faced off in Beijing’s first-ever “Best Santa” contest, sponsored by Beijing This Month at the Qiaobo Ski & Snow World in Shunyi District.

Contestant Patrick Sullivan hailed from the United States. With three kids, he knows all about the importance of Santa Claus to a successful holiday season: “I have three girls. I’ll buy a camera for one of them, clothing for another and something useful for the third.” But he also joined in the contest because he sees Santa as part of a larger theme: “Maybe we have forgotten the real meaning of Xmas, but what’s important is that it is a holiday for family together. Santa is a generous man. He brings a message for people to unite, to remember the year, and what they mean to each other.”

Wannabe Santa Lambert Li brought his young daughter to cheer him on. “I like playing with children, you know, they make you feel young and relaxed,” he said. “We have to spend more time with our kids, no matter how busy we are with business.”

Another American contestant, known only as Mr. Magic, summed up the feelings of many on the day: “The best part of being Santa is making kids smile. The competition was disorganized but fun. If you want to know who won, the kids won, and that is what is most important.”

At the end of an afternoon of fun-filled competition, 50 children stood in judgment. Read on to see who won the title of Beijing's Best Santa of 2008!

 

Name: Patrick Sullivan

Nationality: American

Occupation: Sales Marketing for UniGroup Worldwide

Name: Lambert Li

Nationality: Chinese

Occupation: Purchaser for Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing

 

Name: Lei Yue

Age: 4

Nationality: Chinese

School: Tsinghua University Kindergarten

“I love Santa very much, he gave me a Beetle (car model) last year. I won’t ask anything from him this year.” [Lei’s mother whispered: “Won’t ask…He must have no idea yet what to ask for. I put the Beetle under a picture of Santa on Christmas Day, so he thinks it was sent by Santa.”

Name: Mr. Magic

Nationality: American

Occupation: Magician, writer, entertainer, professional Santa who puts on a play every year at the National Puppet Theatre called I Love Christmas.

Experience: Thirteen years as a bilingual Santa in Beijing (at malls, parties, homes and schools), 20 years as a magician, 10 years as a children’s book writer, and “40 years as a lover of Christmas.”

“I was born close to Christmas and my Mom said I was delivered home on Christmas Day – then she put me under the tree. I am glad so many kids picked me as their favorite Santa. I am always happy to give free shows to charities, orphanages and hospitals.”

“I like Christmas in China because it is new, but Christmas in New York City is a magical sight that everyone should experience at least once! I like to give out the books I write and the songs I sing. Plus we like to give to charities. I hope Santa brings me and my wife a sweet, healthy baby for Christmas!”

Name: Lei Mingzhao

Age: 11

Nationality: Chinese

School: Grade 6, Peking University Primary School

“I liked Santa No.5 the best, because he can do magic, it’s fantastic! I like Christmas, as there are always a lot of competitions and games on Christmas Day, and I can always win many gifts.”

Name: Johann (Wang Jidong)

Nationality: Chinese

Occupation: Chef of Four Points by Sheraton Beijing

Experience: Played Santa at the Christmas party in Crowne Plaza Park View Wuzhou Beijing in 2007

“It’s great to play Santa. Santa is just like a grandfather…and to be a young grandfather is such an honour. Of course, the happiness of the children is my first consideration; I don’t care if I win or not in this competition. For my own kid, a two-year-old daughter, I will buy her a remote-control ant toy. She had one before and she loved it so much, but it was broken. She felt so upset, so I will buy her a new one for this year’s Christmas gift.”

Names: Nate and Nick Vance

Age: 10, 7

Nationality: American

Schools: Elder brother Nate goes to the International School of Beijing; Nick attends the Western Academy of Beijing

Nate: “I have been in China for four months. I can speak a little Chinese, but I love Beijing. I hope I can get a video game as my Christmas present.”

Nick: “It’s my first time to spend Christmas in China. I think it will be very funny.”

Name: Chris Roberts

Nationality: Australian

Occupation: Director of Operations, Hilton Beijing

Experience: Played Santa at a party in South Korea in 2007 at the Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort

“I’m truly Santa, ‘Santa Chris’ from the North Pole…but, hah, Santa is hoping for a white Christmas in China. In Australia, Christmas is always in the summer and very hot and of course there’s never any snow, so this year will be a completely different experience for me. I think the best way to spend Christmas is with loved ones, and in particular a ‘special someone,’ so I’m hoping to find a wonderful ‘Miss Santa Claus’ (she knows who she is…) to spend Christmas with this year, as I’m single at the moment.

I love playing with the kids, who always make you feel young. I have always been a child at heart, so Christmas is always lots of fun for me. I enjoy the fun, games and celebration. I especially remember the excitement as a young boy. However, it doesn’t matter what age I am, I still believe the best present for me, no mater what it is, will always be a gift from my mum (love you Mum!).”

Beijing This Month (BTM): What does Santa want in his own stocking?

Santa Chris: Santa would love a stocking filled with a Nintendo WII this year (I told you I'm just a boy at heart). Maybe also a “get out of recession free card.”

BTM: How good have the kids been this year in Beijing?

Santa Chris: Of course the kids in Beijing have all been very, very good this year following the amazing welcome and support for all foreign visitors at the Beijing Olympic Games. Of course, I couldn’t be here to see first hand, but I watched on cable TV from the North Pole (yes, Santa gets free cable TV too).

BTM: What’s Santa’s wish for the New Year?

Santa Chris: Santa wishes that every child can be happy, enjoy good health, a loving family and have many opportunities in life! And he’d like to make ‘Miss Santa Claus’ happy…