18.05.12
(CNN) -- For at least one, it became a celebrity-studded lifestyle, replete with million-dollar jewels, agents and a beard insured for six figures. For some it was a work, heard as early as age 4 or inherited from elders. For others it began for kicks, a one-beforehand silly gig they got roped into and then loved.
The men who professionally put on the red suit are part of a special crowd. They usher in a season, spreading cheer and appearing in family photos. They vitalize magical thinking, offer hope and keep innocence alive. They table, bellies out, as proud representatives of a storied tradition.
And while their work is regularly jolly and sometimes moving, it comes with its challenges -- wet infants, rage-throwing toddlers and drunken women demanding sex, to name a few.
But there are also unexpected questions and unimaginable-to-meet wish lists. A little boy, for example, asked one Santa if he had a penis. Many children ask Santa to bear back dead grandparents or pets. Others offer lists the length of Santa's arm that register pricey items like iPads, and Santa's job is to manage expectations. Santa also must keep his reputation and the concerns of parents, which is one reason many veterans teach that a Santa must show his hands at all times.
Source: CNN
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