Santa For Hire, Devon

10/03/2026

The real organisation that tracks Santa every Christmas Eve
Here’s one of the most unexpected modern Santa stories.
Every Christmas Eve, a real military organisation tracks Santa’s journey around the world. It’s called NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
They normally monitor airspace for safety across North America. But once a year… they track Santa.
And the reason it began is wonderfully human.
Back in the 1950s, a newspaper printed a telephone number that children were supposed to call to speak to Santa. But the number was printed incorrectly.
The phone rang instead in a military command centre.

A child asked the officer who answered, “Is Santa there?”
Instead of hanging up, the officer checked a radar screen and replied that Santa had just left the North Pole and was on his way.
And just like that, a tradition was born.

Since then, NORAD has continued the idea every year. Families can follow Santa’s journey online and watch him travel from country to country as Christmas Eve unfolds around the world.

It’s not about pretending Santa is real.

It’s about protecting something much more important – imagination, shared excitement, and that feeling of believing… just for one night.
Even in the most technical, serious places, Christmas still finds a way in

Have you ever followed Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve?

03/03/2026

The Christmas tradition that begins with light
In parts of Northern Europe, Christmas doesn’t begin with presents…
It begins with light.
Very early in the morning, on a dark December day, a young girl walks quietly through her home or school.
She wears a white robe.
A red sash.
And a crown of candles on her head.
This beautiful tradition is linked to the story of
Saint Lucia.
Lucia lived in the early centuries of Christianity and became a symbol of courage, kindness and hope.
Over time, her story became especially meaningful in countries where winter days are long and sunlight is scarce.
Light mattered.
Not just in the sky…
but in people’s lives.
Today, in countries such as Sweden, children still take part in Lucia processions every December.
They sing.
They carry candles.
They visit care homes, schools and hospitals.
The meaning behind it is simple — and quietly powerful:

✨ bring light where things feel dark
✨ bring comfort where people feel tired or lonely
✨ remind others that winter does not last forever
It’s not about religion for most families now.
It’s about atmosphere.
Gentleness.
And slowing down.
A calm moment of magic before the busyness of Christmas really begins.
💬 Did you know about the Lucia tradition before today?

24/02/2026

Santa didn’t always look like this
🌍 Here’s the part most people never realise about Santa…
For a very long time, there wasn’t one clear image of him at all.
Before modern advertising and mass printing, Santa – or Father Christmas – appeared very differently depending on:
• the country
• the time period
• and the artist telling the story
In older illustrations, he might appear:
– tall and slender
– serious and quiet
– wrapped in long robes or heavy coats
– dressed in colours other than red
There simply wasn’t a single widely-agreed version.
Only stories.
Only traditions.
Only imagination.
It was only later – once certain illustrations became widely shared – that the friendly, red-suited Santa gradually became the most familiar version.
So the Santa we know today is really a blend of:
✨ old legends
✨ centuries of storytelling
✨ and changing art styles
Which means Santa isn’t just a character…
He’s a story that’s been growing and changing for hundreds of years.
And we’re still part of that story today.
💬 Which version of Santa do you remember most from your childhood?

17/02/2026

The artist who shaped the Santa we recognise today
🎨 The Santa you picture in your head… was shaped by an artist
If I asked you to describe Santa right now, you’d probably picture:
✔️ a round, friendly face
✔️ rosy cheeks
✔️ a soft red suit
✔️ a big, warm smile
That version of Santa didn’t just appear by accident.
In 1931, an illustrator called Haddon Sundblom was commissioned to paint Santa for Christmas advertising for The Coca-Cola Company.
Instead of a distant or serious figure, Sundblom created something very different for the time…
A Santa who felt:
✨ human
✨ gentle
✨ approachable
✨ full of warmth
A Santa children could believe in.
And parents could trust.
Those paintings were shared again and again, year after year, and slowly helped fix a very clear image of Santa in people’s minds.
It’s important to say this properly though…
Coca-Cola did not invent Santa.
But those illustrations helped cement the modern look that most of the world now recognises.
So next time you see a smiling, rosy-cheeked Santa waving at children…
You’re also seeing the quiet influence of one illustrator, nearly 100 years ago.
Pretty amazing, really.

11/02/2026

🎅 The true story of Santa… starts with a real person
Most people think Santa Claus is purely a magical Christmas character.
But the very first “Santa” was inspired by a real man.
His name was Saint Nicholas.
He lived over 1,700 years ago in what is now modern-day Turkey and was a Christian bishop known for one thing above all else…
Kindness.
Not loud, public kindness.
Quiet kindness.
One of the most famous stories and legends tells how Nicholas secretly helped struggling families by leaving money behind at night — so no one would know who had helped them.
That idea…
✨ giving without being seen
✨ helping without expecting praise
✨ creating magic quietly in the background
…is where the heart of Santa really comes from.
Long before sleighs, reindeer and red coats.
Long before shopping lists and wish lists.
At its core, the Santa story is about choosing to make someone else’s life better — when no one is watching.
And honestly…
That might be the most magical part of Christmas of all. 🎄
💬 Did you already know Santa was inspired by a real person?

06/02/2026

This was us in Lapland in December – having fun as a family and experimenting with one of our favourite Arctic party tricks…
👉 throwing boiling water into the air and watching it instantly freeze.
Moments like this are exactly why we love what we do.
Travel, creativity, magical places – and turning wonder into experiences we later bring back to our events here in the South West.
✨ A little off-season inspiration from Santa’s world – even when the red suit is packed away.
If you enjoy seeing the real people behind Santa for Hire Devon, give this reel a little love – it really helps support our small family business.
📩 Planning a Christmas, winter or family event later in the year?
Message us to chat about ideas and availability across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

06/02/2026

Exciting new ! We have been working on our Santa for hire UK Linkedin over the last few days :) We will be adding up dates there over the next few months ❤🎅. Check it out following the link below :)

Santa For Hire UK | 2 followers on LinkedIn. Bespoke Santa & festive event entertainment for professional venues across the South West | Santa For Hire UK provides bespoke Santa and festive event entertainment for public and commercial venues across the South West.

15/01/2026

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 Sally Winsor Was Hardwicke, Maureen Martin, Marcia Butt, Aimee Peters, Rory Stapleton, Nottingham Ladd, Lisa Lidster, Kathy Ingle, Glenn Hamilton

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community, fans

13/01/2026

🎄 Partner With Santa for Hire Devon – Christmas Experience Opportunities 🎄
At Santa for Hire Devon, we have over a decade of experience in the Santa experience industry, including successfully designing and running our own immersive Christmas grotto experience for the past 5 years.
We’re now exploring partnership opportunities with UK venues and attractions who would like to offer a high-quality, family-focused Santa experience without taking on all the operational and staffing pressures themselves.
What we bring:
✨ Proven Santa experiences that families return for year after year
✨ Professional, authentic Santa characters & trained performers
✨ Story-led guest interactions and memorable meet-and-greet experiences
✨ End-to-end experience delivery based on real-world success
What we’re looking for:
🤝 Collaborative venue partnerships
💷 Profit-share or revenue-based models
🏛️ Venues with good, existing, proven footfall or established visitor infrastructure
📩 To start a conversation, email [email protected] or send us a Facebook message.
Planning ahead for Christmas 2026 and beyond.