Michael Bußmann has been traveling as Santa Claus in Hamm for many years. On December 6th he will be seen again at the Christmas market at the Pauluskirche.

Hamm – His appearance is unmistakable and everyone knows who he is. With his long white beard, red coat and miter on his head, he has been making children’s eyes shine for more than three decades. Michael Bußmann is traveling in Hamm as Santa Claus. What started with a solid idea as a temporary worker is now a tradition. It has long been part of the inventory at the Christmas market at the Pauluskirche and at the Advent lights in the spa gardens.

Putting his heart and soul into it: Michael Bußmann has been Hamm’s Santa Claus for many years

It all started on a much smaller scale. “A friend of mine came up with the idea of ​​setting up a clown and Santa Claus agency for children’s birthdays and Christmas parties,” says Michael Bußmann. When the colleague who was actually scheduled to play Santa Claus dropped out at short notice, he didn’t think twice and took on the role.

He quickly collected “regular customers” who contacted him every year. When his acquaintance finally quit, Bußmann continued anyway. He received support from his daughters Eva and Melly, who accompanied him dressed as angels, and from his then wife, who sewed the costumes for the children. The employment office, which at that time still had its own agency for small artists, even gave him some appointments.

Michael Bußmann: Always very popular as Santa Claus

“At one point we were so popular that we had to sort the celebrations by district in order to manage everything,” he remembers. He still looks back fondly on the day with most of the families. “We had 13 appointments in one fell swoop. Melly had the calendar firmly under control. She coordinated everything and I drove quickly from place to place.”

The stress didn’t bother the former salesman. The private appointments were the best of the year. “I myself would never have thought of becoming Santa Claus and would not have thought that it would be so well received.” “My heart for children always disappeared back then,” says the 66-year-old.

Lebenshilfe’s Christmas party was a highlight

He was once invited to the Lebenshilfe Christmas party. Back then, 350 people celebrated together in the foyer of the central hall. “That was the pure highlight.” “The joy of the people there moved me to tears,” he says. Little by little, however, the children of his regular customers grew out of the tradition and Michael Bußmann’s orders became fewer and fewer – until Klaus Ernst from city marketing at the Hammer business agency Impuls suddenly contacted him and invited him to become the new Santa Claus at the Hammer Christmas market.

That was around 20 years ago. Since then, the annual date has been marked in his calendar. Michael Bußmann is now retired and spends a lot of time with his girlfriend, who often accompanies him to his performances. He doesn’t want to miss his job as Santa Claus. “I’ll keep doing this as long as I can and as long as there are children who want to see me,” he says.

The Christmas market in Hamm has a lot to offer, but very few stalls allow you to pay by card.