October 2008

It was with great pleasure and historical significances, that in October 2008 the grandsons of Charles W. Howard and Jim Yellig met in the round room of the Candy Castle where their grandfathers met 70 years prior.

Will Koch, Jim Yellig’s grandson and Charles Bergman, Charles W. Howard’s grandson, representing their families and their famous grandfathers recorded the first signatures to the Santa Claus Oath.

Will Koch, Santa (Gary Isaacson) and Charles Bergeman

Santa Claus, IN (PRWEB) October 13, 2008 -- Christmas is just around the corner and soon Santa Claus will be making his appearance in parades and shopping malls worldwide. To help kick off the Christmas Season, the newly created Santa Claus Oath will be signed and dedicated in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Will Koch, Pat Koch, Phil Wenz and Charles Bergeman

The Santa Claus Oath outlines eight principles that a Santa Claus should follow. Created earlier this year by Phillip L. Wenz, the Santa from Santa's Village, the Santa Claus Oath was inspired by two legendary Santa Clauses, Jim Yellig of Santa Claus, Indiana and Charles W. Howard of Albion, New York.

Seventy years ago this week, the two most preeminent gentlemen to ever put on the red suit, Jim Yellig and Charles W. Howard, met for the first and only time. Yellig would become known as the "Real Santa" from Santa Claus, Indiana, and Howard would become known as the "Dean" of Santa Clauses.

The only time the two men would ever meet was in October 1938 at the Candy Castle in Santa Claus, Indiana.

"Those two marvelous Santas met each other only once, and it was in the town of Santa Claus," says Wenz. "It will 70 years later, nearly to the day, that two of the grandsons of these legendary Santas will be the first to sign the Santa Claus Oath in that same magical town."

During Sunday's ceremony, Charles Bergeman, the grandson of Charles W. Howard and Will Koch, the oldest grandson of Jim Yellig will be the first to sign the Oath on behalf of their families and their famous grandfathers.