By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Crazy ‘Bout History, the historical society that has made a name for itself in the River Region by injecting a little history into its Halloween cemetery tours, will be adding some local flavor to the Christmas season this year with a Cajun holiday event Sunday at the St. James Welcome Center in Gramercy.

“I think it will be something different,” said Crazy ‘Bout History Director Connie Donadieu.

She said Sunday’s event, dubbed A Very Cajun Christmas, will feature Cajun music and games and even some storytelling with a bit of a local flair. Gumbo will also be sold at the event, but admission is free.

“We are the first Acadian coast,” said Donadieu, who has made it her mission to make sure those who live in the area never forget its historical importance.

Besides the previously mentioned activities, youngsters will also have probably their first chance of the season to have their picture taken with Santa, represented by LaPlace resident John Dinger.

No ordinary mall Santa, Dinger is probably the closest to the real thing there is. For six months of the year — he starts growing the white beard in June — Dinger draws looks of wonder from children just about everywhere he goes. He said an impromptu Christmas party follows him wherever he goes this time of year.

Dinger said the role of Santa was somewhat thrust upon him when he and his wife took a Halloween cruise. Although he originally intended to dress as “Whitebeard the Pirate” — he could not pull off Blackbeard for obvious reasons — the cruise announcer referred to him as Santa, and Dinger has not looked back since.

“It just kind of turned into Santa,” he said. “It’s just been fun ever since.”

So while for half the year Dinger lives an ordinary life, for six months of the year he literally transforms into Kris Kringle.

“I guess it’s like the movie (“The Santa Clause”),” he said. “Wherever I go it becomes a holiday.”

And the fact that the hair and beard are real only adds to the mystique. But unlike Tim Allen in that holiday movie, Dinger draws the line at packing on the pounds for the holidays.

“I’m not going to gain a whole lot of weight just to be Santa Claus,” said Dinger.

The size difference, however, does not stop children from accepting the illusion. And the adults around him seem to be a little taken in themselves.

“The people you’re around kind of play the game as well,” he said. “It’s fun.”

And that extends to his family — wife Cindy, son Josh and dog Toby — who seem to enjoy the ruse as much as he does.

“They fall right into it,” he said. “She’s Mrs. Claus, and she enjoys it.”

In a way, Santa is the role Dinger has been preparing for his whole life. He said his hair started turning gray at around the age of 30.

“When I turned 50, it all went white,” he said. “It just ended up looking like it was supposed to look.”

A pocket full of candy canes and a handful of magic tricks add to the allure, but perhaps what the children who encounter this Santa relish the most is how real he is. Not only the beard and hair, either. Dinger tries to make Santa real by going further than the Santas children see in shopping malls.

“The kids can talk with me,” he said. “They can ask me questions. I like to bring a lot of fun into the activity.”

And although Dinger will likely be busy with events like Sunday’s for the next month or so, he doesn’t worry about filling his calendar or how much he will be paid.

“I do it mostly for the joy,” he said. “Being a Christian, you don’t know what path you’re supposed to follow, but when you follow God’s path, it always ends up good.”

A Very Cajun Christmas will take place Sunday, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the St. James Welcome Center, 1094 N. Airline Highway in Gramercy.  For more information, visit Crazy ‘Bout History’s Facebook page.