PICAYUNE, Miss. (WLOX) – With just 38 days until Christmas, Santa is busy getting down to business, reviewing his list, and checking it twice.
“Business is great but it’s such a joy to see the light up on a kid’s face when they know they’re on the good list,” said Mr. Cringles, also known as Christopher McKay
It was 2012 when Christopher McKay and his wife Mary McKay truly became Santa’s helpers as Mr. and Mrs. Cringles. The couple is from Colorado and has been married since 1999. The two share theater backgrounds which sparked their interest, in getting involved in theater in Poplarville once they moved to South Mississippi. Their involvement eventually grew year after year, appearing in various cities and events.
“When we come to Picayune we spend a lot of time visiting with children throughout the community,” said Mary. “We do the City of Picayune’s annual tree lighting. We also do their main festival called Christmas on the Rails,” said Mary. “We visit nursing homes and daycares throughout South Mississippi and to New Orleans even.”
Over the years, their around-the-clock visits grew into experiences the Cringles couldn’t let go of.
“An organ transplant event we were at, to just know those kids were getting a second chance at life and we were able to share in that joy with them,” Mrs. Claus also known as Mary said. “We don’t experience that at the North Pole, it’s just us and the elves and we’re always business making sure the holidays are special for everyone here.”
The two eventually decided to invest in a workshop in South Mississippi, The Cringle’s Studio.
“Everyone has been so wonderful here, welcoming us as the Cringles,” Mary said. “It’s just a lot different from being up at the North Pole. The temperature so we keep it really cool in the studio because we aren’t used to these hot temperatures in South Mississippi,” she laughed.
The McKays officially planted their Christmas roots at Cringles Studio July 2024 and is located at 2213 Williams Avenue in downtown Picayune. Children can play and build things with Santa, bake cookies with Mrs. Claus, and experience all things North Pole but in Picayune while capturing each memory.
“We have our private photo sessions and they’re not your typical photo sessions,” said Mary. “We have a sleigh. We have snow that we brought from the North Pole and you can have a snowball fight with Santa under the falling snow,” she said.
Inside the studio, there are two main photography rooms, a craft room, a living room, and a backyard for sessions as well. Mary said the studio not only spreads Christmas cheer and joy throughout the community but also for themselves.
Christopher, also known as Santa, said while many depend on him to keep the magic of Christmas alive, Mrs. Claus is the one who keeps everything in order.
“I’m very thankful for Mrs. Claus and the elves,” he said. “It’s amazing how much they do to assist me. Naturally, navigation-wise when I’m driving the sleigh that’s one thing and I feel in control there. But luckily Mrs. Claus is there to tell me we have to do and have to do that,” he said.
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