Santa Talks!: The Life Story of Saint Nicholas

By Glenn Heald

The magic of Santa Claus has been raising questions in the minds of children around the world for centuries. In Santa Talks!, Glenn Heald relies on his research and personal experience playing Santa as he shares details of Saint Nicholass life and creatively answers the questions often asked by children while sitting on Santas lap.

Beginning with Nicholass early childhood when he happily lived with monks, Heald narrates the fascinating story of Santas coming-of-age journey through life. After sixteen-year-old Nicholas joins the order to serve the poor, the young bishop soon inherits a fortune from his parents, providing him with the capacity to help the less fortunate. As he throws bags of gold through the windows of children, it is not long before Nicholas encounters a locked window and decides to drop the bag through the chimney. And so begins Santas mission to bring happiness to boys and girls around the world.

Tailored for grandparents, parents, and children of all ages, Santa Talks! keeps Christ in Christmas while sharing the magical story of Saint Nicholass journey to becoming the most beloved holiday character of all time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475950700

Glenn Heald

Glenn Heald is a long-time performer who served in the United States Air Force and, upon retiring, became a Santa with the same drive for excellence as he demonstrated throughout his military career. Often described as “the best Santa ever,” Glenn lives in Macon, Georgia, where he anxiously awaits Christmas every year.

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Copyright © 2013 by Glenn Heald

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-5069-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-5070-0 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012917496

iUniverse rev. date: 12/20/2012

Illustrated by Thomas Aaron Heald

Contents

The Questions Often Asked

Part 1 The Real Saint Nicholas

Nicholas’s Early Childhood

Dowries for Three Daughters

Required to Leave

Christian Council of Nicaea and the Bishop of Myra

Transformation of Nicholas

Presentation on the Symbols of Christmas

Part 2 Teach the Children  (The Real Meaning of Christmas) 

Questions Asked of Santa

The Meaning of the Word Christmas

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Santa Glenn Heald answers all the questions children ask, and he talks about the life and times of Saint Nicholas.

A studied and scholarly Santa, Glenn Heald writes about Saint Nicholas’s childhood and early life and creatively answers the questions often asked by children when they’re sitting on Santa’s lap.

The Questions Often Asked

Are you real?

Where do you live? The elves! How many elves are there?

Do you have reindeer? How do the reindeer fly?

Why do I never see reindeer fly? Where are the reindeer?

Does Rudolph’s nose really glow?

How do you fit into chimneys?

How do you get into houses without chimneys?

Why do people have to be in bed?

Can Santa talk to deaf children?

How many crosses do you wear? And why?

How does Santa use candy canes?

Part 1

The Real Saint Nicholas

Nicholas’s Early Childhood

Nicholas was born in Myra in the country of Lycia, now present-day Turkey. When Nicholas was still very young, his parents died. It’s believed they were taken by an influenza epidemic. In the early fourth century, when Nicholas lived, there were no drugs or vaccines for illnesses like the flu, and often there were widespread plagues, which were frequently fatal.

Monks at a nearby monastery took in young Nicholas, who was also ill, but alive. There was no one else to take care of him. The monks of the monastery took possession of Nicholas’s family’s assets. His parents had been furniture makers and were considered wealthy. They sold off the home and the furniture store that had been owned by