The Sunday Mail
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St Nicholas believed to have been born sometime around 280 A.D in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey.
St Nicholas became admired for his piety and kindness.
It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick.
The legend became a symbol for Christmas and over the years, only males have played “Santa Claus”.
But that role is no longer limited to men alone.
Miss Nicolette Soeryanata of Harare has broken tradition by becoming the well-loved Santa.
Call her Mother Christmas, Mrs Santa, Santarella, the 26-year-old is driven by a passion to bring smiles to many at Christmas.
She feels, too, that she can do the job better than her male counterparts.
Miss Soeryanata believes that while Santa is reputed for his love, she has an advantage: Motherly love and female instincts associated with a natural passion for children.
When The Sunday Mail visited her at Long Chen Plaza in the capital last week, a good number of children and adults were queuing to get a chance to be photographed with “Mother Christmas”.
Clad in Santa Claus’ unmistakable red and white tunic, which perfectly embraced her frame; and big black boots, Miss Soeryanata took time to listen to every Christmas wish.
Upon receiving a wish from a child, she quickly jotted it down in a small note book, took two or three sweets from her jar and that was enough to put a smile on any child’s face.
“One of the saddest wishes I have ever received was from a six-year-old girl who wanted her parents to stop fighting,” she told The Sunday Mail calmly.
“It is those moments when a motherly touch is needed for both the child and parents. I remember I gave the girl a big hug, told her it was going to be alright. I then pulled the father aside and told him what his daughter had said.
“I hope everything worked out well. I have often seen young children crying hysterically because of Santa’s beard and the way he will be dressed.”
“At times what children need is just a warm embrace, something I feel has often lacked with male Santas,” she added with a chuckle.
“Christmas is a time of peace and love and that is what I represent.”
Born in a family of five, Nicky, as she is called by close friends and family, claims she has always been the one with big heart.
After repeating her Ordinary Level studies three times, without success, the woman who resides in Mabelreign, Harare said she knew she had to seek a career outside serious academic concentration.
This year, her fiancé, Mr Anup Guelabhiai, who plays Santa Claus in Harare’s central business district, helped Miss Soeryanata with the idea.
“Anup, was already in the business and earlier this month, he needed an extra pair of hands, which would help him,” she said. “But he wanted a male Santa who would be stationed here at Long Chen Plaza.
“He could not find anyone willing to help him and when he approached me with the idea, I quickly jumped on to it.”
Since she officially became “Mother Christmas” on December 6 this year, she gets 15 children on average at her stand daily.
However, not everyone is happy with Miss Soeryanata, and she alleges receiving threats from some teenagers.
“A couple of teenagers came here some weeks ago and they asked why I was trying to change the norm. They said I should go back home and play my ‘natural roles’.
“But I believe as long as there is a male, there is also a female.
“And the same is true for Santa,” she said as she gave freshly baked cookies to a boy on her lap.
And her fiancé agreed: “If I can do it, I believe she can do it as well or even better.”
In most African countries, Santa Claus, “is foreign and not an African concept”, while children have always believed that Santa is male.
But the few children who spoke to this publication said “Mother Christmas” was just that – a mother.
“Boys are not any different from girls, so I think she can do it and I think she will take her time preparing our presents,” said Reneé Brown of Arcadia, Harare.
