As we enter anther Christmas season, I have been reflecting upon some of the past Christmases I spent on the Beach back in the day. Living in a trailer at Red Coconut RV Park for the first fourteen years of my life, Christmas vacation was one of my favorite times of the year. This was the time when all the Christmas campers would come down for two weeks of fun in the sun. These were not just random campers; they were regulars who would visit every Christmas, so it was like a family reunion when they returned each December. I remember the fun times we had celebrating with Santa in the recreation room where there was always a Christmas party with plenty of good food and presents for all the kids.
The Christmas fun was not limited to Red Coconut, however, as the beach has always honored Christmas in the most tropical way. As far back as the 1930s, Christmas was always a time for friends to gather and celebrate. Jean Matthew, in her book, We Never Wore Shoes, mentions Rolfe Schell’s recollection of early Christmas traditions on the island. In the very early days, Santa would arrive at the Beach Hotel by a canoe that he would paddle himself. One time, he was getting off the boat and stepped into the water that was over his head.
Jean goes on to describe the Christmases she remembers from growing up on the beach in the late 30s and early 40s. At that time, there were only about 25 children on the island, and they would all gather at the Beach Hotel (formerly the Winkler Hotel). The owners of the hotel would plant a Florida Pine tree in the sand in front of the hotel, the children were given apples and oranges by the residents, and the parents built a large bonfire so Santa could find the party when he arrived by boat. Apparently, Santa had second thoughts about the canoe, so he was now arriving in a small motorboat which was driven up on the beach so he could get on land without drowning. The evening would end with a community party at the El Mercado shop.
Eventually, the party was moved from the Beach Hotel to the County Park and the festivities grew to include the lighting of the community Christmas Tree (still a Florida Pine) and singing of carols. In 1995, Santa arrived on water skis during the daylight hours which was a real thrill for the kids.
As the island’s population grew in the late 1990s and 2000s, this tradition was lost. Perhaps Santa got smart and decided to arrive in a traditional sleigh instead of a boat. Today, we still celebrate the holidays with a boat parade and a party for the kids at Bay Oaks. It doesn’t quite live up to the skiing Santa, but my kids still talk about the Holiday Celebrations they took part in at the Beach School and at Bay Oaks. I am sorry they missed the skiing Santa and hope that someday, he may return to entertain a new generation of Beach Kids.
