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Hi, my name is Cliff Snider, but I first took on the name of "Santa Claus" in 1963 when I was 16 years old. The members of my church youth group selected me to wear the red suit and an artificial wig and beard because I was the fattest boy in the class. Little did they, or I, know that God was giving me a mission for my life.
I continued to "play Santa Claus" all through my high school and college years and on into my adult working and family life. Then, in 1995, through the urging of a friend, I had another life-changing experience. I read a book titled "The Artist's Way - A Spiritual Guide to Discovering Your Own Creativity" by Julia Cameron. Through the reading of this book and following the steps it outlined, I decided that rather than "playing Santa Claus," I would become Santa Claus.
As a result, I have pursued every way possible to be the most realistic Santa Claus anyone can find. I have attended the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, MI, which was founded in 1937. I have also received my "Bachelor of Santa Claus, BSC" degree and my "Master of Santa Claus, MSC" from the International University of Santa Claus. I am a naturally bearded Santa with a complete wardrobe of my own designs of costumes and accessories.
As Santa Claus, it is my desire to represent God's love at Christmas, by sharing the True Reason for the Season, the birth of Jesus Christ. To me, the red of my Santa suit represents the blood that Christ shed on the cross for my sins, and the white fur represents the cleansing of my sins through believing in Him. That is the message this Santa wants to share with the world.
In "my other life," I am a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Printing Management. During my career as a sales and marketing executive I have guided hundreds of artists in the production and marketing of their artwork into limited-edition reproductions.
This marketing relationship with artists has led to the creation of a personal line of art reproductions of Santa Claus that I have modeled for. Through the marketing of these works of art, my image as Santa has traveled all over the world.
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