School teaches Santa skills

The proprietors of a Michigan Santa Claus-training school say being a good St. Nick is about more than the costume; it requires a special skill set.

Tom and Holly Valent, owners of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Mich., said their $300 training program attracts more than 100 men and women each year who are planning to portray Santa or his wife, Mrs. Claus, during the holiday season, The Miami Herald reported Monday.

The Valents said their students are now out spreading Christmas cheer across the United States, but they spent three days in October learning about various topics including fun facts about the North Pole and sign language for communicating with deaf children. They said the Kringles-in-training are also treated to a real sleigh ride and get to interact with the two reindeer owned by the school — aptly named Comet and Cupid.

We teach everything that we feel a real Santa would need to know, Holly Valent said. Not everyone can be a good Santa. It takes something special.