Becoming our Santa

Focusing on specific, transformative moments rather than my full life story—this is a new beginning, a moment of realization. This is the story of Santa—our Santa.

As an immigrant, we believe every new day is a starting day. A journey of seeking identity while stepping into the unknown.

The idea of Santa came to me in 2016, when I began to realize that the United States had become my new home.
But the concept of “home” cannot become a memory in a single moment—it takes time. I believe Santa became part of that response, part of that search for identity.

Santa was already known in this land. No one needed an explanation of “who Santa is.”
But I felt the need to bring a change to what Santa could be.

Santa has no season. Santa lives at the center of the community and knows the people within it.
Santa has no limits of time or space.

Ms. G, a lawyer, gifted our Santa the first costume. It seemed she believed in the dream—and from that moment, Santa was officially born.

The unfamiliar accent of our Santa became more familiar with the costume.
Santa doesn’t need to say much. Sometimes, it is enough just to be there.