Christmas in July brings a little magic to Old Colorado City
Eibhleann Boyd flashed a huge smile and pointed at the tall man standing in the Christmas-themed store in Old Colorado City on Sunday afternoon. With rosy cheeks, a fluffy white beard, classic round spectacles, Hawaiian shirt and bright red shorts, Santa Claus was a sight to behold.
Boyd, 7, approached him quietly but her excitement showed through her smile. By the time she was done visiting with Saint Nick, she was giggling and excited about writing her Christmas gift list and mailing it to the North Pole.
“Every time I make anyone smile, especially a child, it’s the greatest reward I could get,” Santa Claus said. “That’s what we’re all on this earth to do: Make others happy.”
Celebrating Christmas in July was a no-brainer to The Holly Leaf’s owner of 16 years, Julie Fabrizio. She wanted to do something special for her customers during the summer so she called in a favor to her old friend Santa Claus. Besides bringing in people to the store located at 514 West Colorado Ave., Fabrizio said surprising children when they met Santa Claus was the real objective of the event.
“There is something so comforting and exciting about Christmas in July, sort of like eating breakfast for dinner,” Fabrizio said. “He is the best Santa Claus by far, and he is amazing with the children.
“They all love him.”
Although he calls Colorado Springs home, Santa Claus said he travels more than 200 days out of the year spreading Christmas joy throughout the country, and insisted that his real name was Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus. His story began about 270 A.D. and he’s always been a toy maker, he said.
“This is the first thing that children believe in their life, and sadly it’s the first thing we take away from them,” Santa Claus said. “When a child gets to carry that belief with them for a long time, it’s marvelous.”
Santa Claus said among the most popular toys were American Girl dolls and LEGOs. Lots of children wished for world peace, also.
In Colorado Springs, he said, many children asked to have their parents back from military deployments.
“I remind them that no matter where their parent is, that as long as they think about them, they’re always with them and their parent is always thinking about them, even if they’re no physically close,” Santa Claus said. “Their happy thoughts are always with their parent and they’re together, in a different sort of way.”
Saint Nicholas tells Elijah Adkins, 5, that he can only make the bell ring if he has the proper christmas spirit at The Holly Leaf during the Christmas in July event in Old Colorado City Sunday, July 6, 2014. Santa, garbed in a hawiian shirt for the weather, reminds every child that he is noting whether they are naughty or nice despite the 6 months remaining until Christmas. Photo by Julia Moss, The Gazette
Saint Nicholas puts reindeer bells over Ethan Adkins’ neck during the Christmas in July event at The Holly Leaf in Old Colorado City Sunday, July 6, 2014. Santa, garbed in a hawiian shirt for the weather, reminds every child that he is noting whether they are naughty or nice despite the 6 months remaining until Christmas. Photo by Julia Moss, The Gazette
Saint Nicholas greets passer-by at The Holly Leaf during the Christmas in July event in Old Colorado City Sunday, July 6, 2014. Santa, garbed in a hawiian shirt for the weather, reminds every child that he is noting whether they are naughty or nice despite the 6 months remaining until Christmas. Photo by Julia Moss, The Gazette