In Search of Santa Troll

He’s ugly cute. Trolls aren’t meant to be pretty like Barbie or cuddly like Care Bears, but Santa Troll has a significant place in my heart and our home especially during the holidays. 

My parents and I were in Amsterdam just in time to see the city preparing for Christmas 1994. Wandering a department store and admiring all of its festive decor, I somehow fixated on Santa Troll. Don’t know if he has an official name, but that’s what I call him to this day. He was the lone troll. There were no other trolls! Why was he all by himself? Was he misplaced? We walked away.

In the evening rain, we headed elsewhere, and that’s when I decided we had to go back for him. But what if he’s gone? What if another 90s’ child got their parents to buy him for them? Would they be his forever home? We hurried back to where we first saw him and didn’t see him. Where did he go? We searched around and around through ornaments and strings of things, and I was sad. I guess it was not meant to be.

Until it was! My mom had absentmindedly moved him to a shelf high enough for her to see and reach, but not within a child’s range. We were so relieved, and I think Santa Troll was too. He’s the best 37.50 Dutch Guilder ever spent! The Euro didn’t exist back then.

Santa Troll came home with us as a priority in my carry-on, my plus one for Christmas dinner. Snug in my little arm, he was protected from family drama and dressed for the occasion, although just like Winnie-the-Pooh, where are his pants?! Since I didn’t dress myself back then, I was clashing two patterns in a dress and turtleneck. At least I was warm!

Is he lucky like trolls are said to be? Well, 28 years later, he lives rent-free in pristine condition, unbothered by the life that moves around him, so yes, he is lucky. With zero responsibilities, he smiles constantly. As if he has a reason not to! He currently wears a bracelet with a jingle bell, formerly a collar worn by a Lindt Gold Bunny who is no longer with us. RIP. That’s what happens when one is made of chocolate and not plastic. See? Santa Troll is lucky! And we are too! Merry Christmas!