Meet Your Neighbor: Bert and Elaine Haaga by Anthony D. Diallo

Bert Haaga in Smihsonian Natural History Museum Greenhouse.

Bert & Elaine Haaga at 1st Anniversary NMAAHC Gala.

Meet Bert and Elaine Haaga Santa Claus and Home Maker

by Anthony D. Diallo

Forget the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus reside right here in DC in Ward 8. Bert and Elaine Haaga moved to Southeast and initially lived in their son’s Anacostia apartment soon after he and his then new bride departed for larger quarters. Within ve years, the couple, tired of renting but thoroughly “loving the diversity and oppor-tunity” that Ward 8 a ords, decided to buy their current three-bedroom, two-story, wood-framed house in Congress Heights. It met all their needs: a ordability, diversity and a place to grow a garden. “We feel that race is one of the biggest problems plaguing our country today. Our goal when we married in 1978 was that we wanted our lives to count for something. I know that there is a whole issue of gentri cation,” said Mrs. Haaga, 67, who enjoys her retirement by communing with their three grandchildren and channeling their time by performing charitable acts. “People of color have been mistreated and exploited. We need the process of healing,” said Mr. Haaga, 66, who still works parttime as a horticulturist at the Smithsonian Museum (federal complex greenhouse in Suitland, Maryland) tending to unusual, rare or nearly extinct species of plants like a Madagascar Palm, Calathea Warscewiczii (like a prayer plant) and rare banana plants.

Living in West Africa

The Haagas went from South Carolina, where they met at the Columbia International University Graduate

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Santa Claus Extraordinaire

With his distinctive long, white beard, burly frame and being called Pere Noel (the legendary French gift-bringer at Christmas) for many years, it was a natural transition for Bert to become interested in and ultimately receive specialized training to become jolly St. Nick. In 2016 Bert traveled to Denver’s Professional Santa Claus School where he honed his skills at a two-day conference and earned a Santa Claus certi cate.

Since then, Mr. Haaga, in full Santa Claus regalia, and Elaine, sometimes dressed as Mrs. Claus, have entertained young and old at Christmas events at such venues as the Southeast White House, where they volunteer their services regularly throughout the year before the pandemic. The Southeast White House, located at 2909 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE is a ectionately known in the area as the Little White House because of its architecture and proximity (four miles east) of the real White House. It is also known as a resource for those seeking lifestyle changes, fellowship and volunteer opportunities.

Additionally, Bert, as Santa Claus, participated in an Enchant Christmas event at Na-tional Stadium in 2019 where he hopes to return in 2021. He has enthralled children at a half dozen charity gigs for the 6th District Police Department.

“First he always provides a free service as Santa at several of our Christmas and holi-day events for children in need. Secondly, the children like him. I met him performing at the Southeast White House and asked him to be Santa for us too,” said Outreach O cer Jason N. Medina who works out of the 6th District in Ward 7.