HARLINGEN— In a red Santa Claus suit and with a brand new beard, Melody Auer, 60, returns to her festive holiday duties. She sits outside her front lawn and waves to passersby as children come by for photos.
This year, following COVID-19 precautions, her face mask is under her beard.
Auer has been playing Santa Claus for 14 years straight, an activity she said she enjoys profoundly. She started her performance last Friday, but she usually begins 10 days before Christmas.
Auer stays outside her front yard at Thomas Lane from 7 to 9 p.m., including on Christmas Eve.
“People drive by, and they ask if they can take pictures with Santa. And I don’t charge because there are some families that cannot afford to get pictures taken with Santa,” Auer said.
“They each get a regular-sized candy cane from me, from Santa,” she said.
Auer has lived in her neighborhood for 15 years, and this tradition began when she wanted to compete with one of her neighbors, as they each put their Christmas decorations.
Auer was sure she would win by having her own “meat and bones” Santa Claus, she said.
“I had my bench sitting out there, and I won that year. After that, the guy down the street wins every year, but I would do the bet because I have Santa,” she said.
Having done this for so many years, Auer has brightened many holidays for countless children.
“People come from La Feria. Families came when their children were in elementary and now they are in high school,” Auer said.
For her, being able to see the children who stop by grow up makes the experience worth it.
“Friends of mine say, ‘Why don’t you charge?’ But I do it because if you ever sat inside Santa’s suit and have these kids look at you, it makes your heart heat up,” Auer said with emotion.
She has gone through three different Santa suits over the past 14 years, she said.
Noelia Gonzalez has been Auer’s neighbor since the tradition began.
“She gives from the heart. She will wave and wait for the cars to drive by. She gives her time every year,” Gonzalez said.
“I think it’s wonderful and beautiful. She is giving a lot to the community. Like my son, they see her, and it’s Christmas for them. I am glad she is my neighbor because we have Santa next door,” she said.
In Brownsville, families opted to take a stroll and take photos at Dean Porter Park.
The park usually has more holiday decorations and activities, including the popular Holiday Village display. This year, festive inflatables bring the Christmas spirit.
Carmen Moreno took her grandsons Mason and Marcus Esquivel to take photos.
Mason, 5, and Marcus, 7, enjoyed their visit to the park.
“We wanted to get out of isolation. We did not know there were decorations. We just wanted to come; this is the first time we come to the park,” Moreno said.
Her family has decided to do a Zoom Christmas gathering to avoid getting sick, she said.
Jazmin Guerra went with her children to take Christmas photos, as well. Guerra said it is a tradition they do every year.
“We have been doing it for seven years, and we always come to Dean Porter Park. It is nice out here; it is something different,” Guerra said.
“We don’t go out as much; this has probably been our second outing. This has been a different year for everyone, but it has taught us a lot about bonding and getting to know each other more as a family,” she said.
