Even Santa Claus needs help sometimes.
He is just one man after all.
Recently, one of his busiest helpers and his wife visited with some children at the Magnolia Coffee Co. in downtown Water Valley in Yalobusha County.
The occasion was a holiday business open house put on by the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce in mid November.
Just after 11 a.m., parents and their children started lining up in the front porch area of the coffee shop where Santa and Mrs. Claus were holding court.
Santa and Mrs. Claus started by introducing themselves to the children and asking them what they wanted for Christmas.
Some children, like 5-year-old Craig Mckey Jr. sat down and told Santa about all the things he wanted.
Other children could barely look at the married couple.
There are children that just freeze up or get upset — sometimes to the point of tears — when facing one of the mythical figures of their childhood up close and personal.
Santa and Mrs. Claus have experienced it all.
Although they answer to their more famous names, the Clauses are also known as Kent and Camille Breckenridge. Both retired, Kent, 57, and Camille, 52, live in Water Valley and became official stand ins and helpers for the original Santa and Mrs. Claus in 2020.
In some ways, as soon as you look at the Breckenridges, you immediately think Santa and Mrs. Claus. But their outfits aren’t exactly what is commonly thought of as traditional.
“We are not the standardized, commercial Santa and Mrs. Claus. We consider ourselves a more modern take on ‘old world’ Clauses. We have an extensive wardrobe and choose our attire based on the event. We are also members of Clan Claus and have custom kilts with each of the Claus tartans,” Kent said.
“I never wanted to wear the cartoonish bonnet and apron, so I knew when I started this journey that it would be as Santa’s counterpart, not sidekick,” Camille said. “We are always color coordinated, but I’m a fun and vibrant person, so I dress and portray myself as such.”
The journey to becoming Santa and Mrs. Claus began in 2016 when Kent grew a full beard in support of “No Shave November” at his corporate job. Camille and their daughter Sloan encouraged him to keep the beard and to find out how he could become an official Santa Claus helper.
“I adamantly refused for a couple of years, then in 2018 a local family asked me to drop-in for a visit to their Christmas party. I agreed and it only took that one night of excited children, and I was hooked. I began researching to be better prepared for the next season. I also wanted Camille to be with me,” Kent said.
Kent and Camille wanted to be the best Santa and Mrs. Claus they could be.
The couple enrolled at “The Harvard” of Santa Claus schools — The Charles W. Howard Santa School in Midland, Michigan. The school is the oldest and most prestigious Santa school in the world, Kent said.
There are Santas from all over the world at the week-long training event. Just some of the sessions at the school include, looking your best, answering the most asked questions, beard and hair care, learning how to include special needs children, and storytelling.
“The sessions for Mrs. Claus focused on how to be the best helper for Santa, finding your own look, Santa and Mrs. Claus’s back story, and working alone for some events,” Camille said.
Kent said the most common questions he gets as Santa are, “Is your beard real? Yes, it’s real. Where is Rudolf and the other reindeer? At the North Pole getting ready. Where’s your sleigh? It’s hidden to avoid distracting others. What’s my Elf’s name? There are so many elves at the North Pole that we use numbers to identify them as it’s more efficient. Yours is No. 74982.”
We have always viewed our corporate events as ways to enable us to give back to our community. Our community events are often fundraisers for outreach organizations, school organizations, and local charities.
Camille said many children are so shocked to see Mrs. Claus in person they are often speechless. She said most kids think Mrs. Claus would be back home at the North Pole.
Kent and Camille are sometimes asked to appear at corporate events, but the couple also spend a good deal of time doing need-based community events.
“We have always viewed our corporate events as ways to enable us to give back to our community. Our community events are often fundraisers for outreach organizations, school organizations, and local charities. One of these ways is through one-on-one home visits for needs-based children,” Kent said.
One of the couple’s most special home visits was when they had the opportunity to visit a young boy to tell him he had found his forever home and would be adopted by his foster family.
Santa Claus is always looking for official help because there’s so much to do before Christmas.
Kent said one of the best qualities to have to become one of Santa’s helpers is a smile. “A servant’s heart is also needed. Additionally, the ability to think quickly on your feet is key because children are asking the hard questions,” Kent said.
Leave it to Mrs. Claus to come up with the most important quality.
“Children remember how you make them feel, so a warm smile and a kind word will keep them believing in the magic of Santa and Mrs. Claus,” Camille said.
For more information about the Breckenridges
Visit their Facebook page or their Instagram page or call 662-934-7109
