1 of 5
Santa Claus inspects children’s names in his big book.
2 of 5
Yankee Candle Village is full of wonder and excitement for the whole family.
3 of 5
4 of 5
5 of 5
Many moons ago, Jim Hines picked up a paper to read his horoscope. It said, “You bring big cheer and joy to all you meet.”
There’s a lot to be said for horoscopes.
Jim has spent the better part of the past three decades spreading holiday cheer and joy, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. He is one of two Santa Clauses employed at Yankee Candle. Perfectly jolly in looks and demeanor, his white hair and beard are both authentic.
He considers his role as more of a calling, though, and less of playing a ‘character.’ It’s a year-round assignment that begins the first Thursday in March and stretches through Christmas Eve, although things really get going early in the holiday season.
“On the second Saturday of November, Santa and Mrs. Claus make their grand arrival,” Jim said. “That’s when the season is officially underway here at Yankee Candle.”
Arriving on that day in a horse-drawn carriage with a police escort, he exits the carriage to stand atop a small platform, greeting hundreds of children who are gleefully waiting.
“We sing two or three songs and then the holiday season begins!” Jim exclaimed. “There are so many excited children all lined up screaming and hollering. Sometimes I don’t know who is more excited! It makes me feel absolutely fantastic.”
Throughout the holiday season at Yankee Candle, Santa can be found sitting in a large chair beside the Clock Tower where he will receive his young visitors, one by one. He is always excited to see them and learn how their year has gone. “When I see that joy in a child’s eye, it gives me such a great feeling of accomplishment,” Jim said. “It makes me feel like I’m really doing something good here.”
Not surprisingly, once the season is in full-tilt, there’s a steady stream of children eager to see Santa. “They come up with their lists or tell me verbally what they want. I’m usually sitting in my chair for eight hours or more each day, and that’s fine. I never complain.”
Jim was born and raised in nearby Newport News, so this Hampton Roads military community is near and dear to his heart. Naturally, sometimes, a child will express a wish for the return of a deployed parent in time for Christmas.
“I can’t deliver that, of course, but I always tell that child not to worry because their parent loves them,” he said. “I promise to visit their mom or dad on Christmas Eve when I’m making my deliveries. I promise to give them a big hug and make sure they know everything’s OK at home.”
As for material gifts, Santa never makes promises because he doesn’t know a family’s situation.
“Instead, I always say we’ll see what we can do,” Jim said. “Sometimes, a child will ask for a pet for Christmas, and I always say that I have to talk to mom and dad.”
To meet Jim is to learn pretty early on that he takes his role very seriously. He dresses in signature red most of the time, except during summer months when his off-duty style leans toward Hawaiian.
“To be honest, I’ve eaten a lot of cold meals at restaurants,” he said with a chuckle. “It doesn’t really matter what I wear. I was attending a wedding rehearsal dinner once, wearing all black from head to toe, and children recognized me right away, coming up to talk to Santa.”
In the “off season,” Jim stays busy at Yankee’s Holiday Park, which is always decorated for Christmas. There are reindeer and swans, even a toy train that runs on a track suspended from the ceiling. It also snows every four minutes.
“Throughout the year, parents will drop by Santa’s workshop with their children,” he said. “So I look up their name in my big book to see how a child is doing. If they have stars by their name, that means I’ve heard about good things they’ve done. Sometimes a parent will come in and let me know their child has to work on something, so I’ll put a red check by that child’s name so I can remind him or her to be sure and listen to mom and dad a little more, or do a little better in school.”
Indeed, this book is massive and quite beautiful. Children’s names appear to be prepared by a professional calligrapher, but the pages are printed on a printer at the store.
Naughty or nice, being Santa Claus is Jim’s dream come true. He has worked at Yankee Candle for about five years, but this year marks his 34th as Santa.
“Previously I was at Christmas Town,” he said. “When I first started out I knew I wanted to do something big! Spending four years at Christmas Town was big. Then, I decided I wanted to do something year-round, and Yankee Candle has given me that privilege.”
Jim is a long-time member of the Loyal Order of Moose, and that’s where his Santa journey started.
“I didn’t have a beard back then,” he said. “But they needed a Santa and I thought it sounded like fun.”
Over the years, his Santa role has taken Jim to homes and to stores like Home Depot. The jobs kept growing, leading to where he is today.
Every now and then, a child will ask if he’s the “real” Santa, how he produces all of the toys and sometimes children just want to know how Santa can deliver so many presents in just one day. Jim has an answer at the ready.
“I explain that the earth is round,” he said. “So when the side they live on is dark, it’s daytime on the other side. I start on the dark side and as I travel, the nighttime is moving with me. When I get to this side of the world, it’s morning on the other side and those children are waking up to see what I’ve left them.”
As for all of those toys? “I have 2,425 elves helping me,” he says. “And that doesn’t count the elves on the shelf!”
Jim shares a favorite memory of a tiny visitor:
“This past Christmas, I had a little baby just 8 days old,” he said. “He was dressed in a little Santa suit and I asked, ‘What’s the baby’s name?’ And his name was Jimmy. I thought, ‘That child just might be my replacement someday!’”
In addition to greeting children at the store, Jim is delighted to participate in the Williamsburg Christmas Parade. There is, however, one thing on Santa’s own wish list.
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is something I’ve always dreamed of. If I could be a part of that, it would be so great.”
Lillian is old enough to remember Richmond’s iconic Miller & Rhoads Santa Claus of the 1970s, but young enough to feel the magic and wonder that Christmas always brings. For her, meeting Yankee Candle’s Santa Claus was the perfect prelude to the season.