As a child growing up in New Orleans we had a second symbol of Christmas who was appointed as Santa Claus’ helper - a snowman with an ice-cream cone hat, ornament eyes and holly leaf wings named Mr. Bingle. He used to be a giant display on Maison Blanche’s famous Canal Street building back in the late 1940s-1950s. Story goes, my great-grandfather helped put up this very display. Another display of his can still be seen at Celebration in the Oaks in City Park, as it was donated by Dillard’s who bought Maison Blanche and continues his legacy.
Walking around Lakeside Mall and into Dillard’s as an adult, I’m immediately transported back to the magic of Christmas (…magic 101.9…) as a kid, thanks to this special, little snowman greeting guests as you step off the escalator. Mr. Bingle is still a Christmas icon today adorning merchandise like ornaments, plush dolls, mugs, and even pajamas. If you’re from New Orleans and see a piece of him around, whether in the store or pinned to a lady’s outfit as she sees you admiring it, you exchange smiles with that stranger and you both know why. He evokes a simpler time filled with imagination, innocence, warmth, tradition. Hope for a happy new year ahead.
My father used to have his classic Mr. Bingle neon sign lit-up for anyone driving down Jefferson Highway to see as his little mitten would appear to be waving at you from the window. I used to take my tiny daughter to take pictures with Mr. Bingle where Santa usually sits in his sleigh, followed by a little train ride that rode through a miniature Christmas village covered in snow. The same train I used to ride as a child, the same sleigh I used to sit on with Santa for our yearly holiday family photo. One of the few remnants of the past that lives on, that those who grew up here look forward to each year - no matter how old or how big they’ve gotten.
To the rest of the world, he could appear to be an odd looking character, but to those that know how long he has been around - how many generations have loved him and have shared his story - he feels like home. Today our family’s Mr. Bingle plush sits in our living room window in Florida. His foot stamped with the last year we were Louisiana residents: 2017. Christmas will never be what it used to be as our whole family would gather at my parents’ home for Noche Buena - homemade Cuban food (and dialogue in the background), Louis Armstrong playing while I cook gumbo, Kringle cake for my dad and coffee brewing for my grandfather. Staying up past midnight to open gifts as grown ups, watching our own children run around awaiting Santa’s arrival. Mr. Bingle has been here there through it all. Forever a connection to our roots and a small window into Christmas through my eyes growing up in New Orleans. He is the spirit of Christmas the way we remembered it before the world changed. I didn’t realize until now how much this little guy holds a piece of my heart. Thank you for the memories, Mr. Bingle.
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