And now, in the middle of summer, he was a guest in a small village in Bakony.
He was visiting a childhood friend and attending a sporting event. He is Loránd Jelényi, born in Sajószentpéter. His life journey is full of adventures. When he was very young, he and his family traveled all over the country, the desire for adventure was always in him. It was his childhood dream to live in America. At the age of eighteen, in 1988, he defected and lived in Greece and then in Italy.
He joined the French Foreign Legion at the age of 20. When the Kuwaiti war broke out, they wanted to take him away, he just completed his training and could decide which regiment he would join. He chose French Guiana, but by then he was already planning to escape. He made his way to Brazil, traveled eight hundred kilometers full of adventures by hitchhiking, started a new life on the plateau of trucks and in the city of Macapá, but in fact he wanted to get to the capital, Brazil City, three thousand kilometers away. He worked hard, received a salary, a place to sleep, and expenses. After the price of the ticket came together, he first sailed to Belém, located at the mouth of the Amazon, and then hitchhiked to the capital.
This was in April 1991; although the official papers I received from the police stated that I must leave the country within two weeks, I have been living in Brazil ever since. When I came from Hungary, I was considered a dissident during the communist era, and escaping from the legion expires after twenty years. At first I lived in a small town, Tapaua, in the middle of the primeval forest, there was no road leading here, it could only be reached by boat or plane. I started a family, we raised our children there, my son is a lawyer, my daughter is studying dentistry, and then we moved to Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas
says Loránd.
Manaus, with more than two million people, is located near the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers, at the "confluence of the waters". This is a special natural phenomenon, a tourist attraction, because the black waters of the Negro and the yellow waters of the Solimões run side by side for about six kilometers without mixing. The dream of the former boy from Sajószenpéter became a reality in this impressive center of the world's largest rainforest - named after the Manao Indians who live here.
But how did he become the beloved Santa Claus of the world city?
Milestones in my life have always happened around Christmas. I left Hungary at Christmas, arrived in French Guiana during the holiday, and met my wife at Christmas 1993. My current "occupation" is also connected to the holiday season and the preceding period. Seven years ago, my partner was asked to play the role of Santa Claus, and he only agreed if I could be Santa next to him. They didn't hire me then, saying my beard was short.
In my anger, I vowed never to cut it again, and I keep it to this day.
At the time, my partner and I drove through the jungle in our jeep for twenty-five days, covering 3,500 kilometers, bringing gifts to the children of Indian villages who hadn't even heard of Santa before. Then I grew a beard and “fortunately” I started graying early, so I became an ideal Santa Claus, although I am considered a young Santa among my peers. I have had a contract with the biggest mall in Manaus for seven years, but in addition, my helpers and I also visit the children in their homes, "working together" with their parents, he says.
During the seven years, he received 3,500 letters from the children, all of which he reads himself. He sensitively mentions that many people do not ask for sweets or toys, but for food, clothes and school supplies. Friends from all over the world also help with charity. In several cases, and not only during Christmas, they knock on the door of the Indian tribes and leave the gifts in front of the door. He admits that someone needs more than just a long beard to be Santa Claus.
To turn to the little ones with love and patience, to encourage them to do good, to bring Christmas magic to the hearts not only of children, but also of adults. He travels around the city in a red jeep decorated with LED lights - which is connected to his favorite hobby, off road. When the children miss the reindeer sleigh, he explains that it is Santa's vehicle in cold northern countries, but Brazil is a tropical country.
The Santa accessories are made in Hungary. Recently, he personally visited Bárány Szilveszter, who lives in Bazsi, ordered red and white shoes from the 20s for himself, red boots for his elves, and their red, white and green leather gloves are sewn in Pécs.
As a "profit" for his 80 cm long beard, he attends beard competitions. In 2022, Nevada became the champion in Las Vegas. In his first world competition, he recently won a silver medal at the World Championships in Burghausen, Germany. He will return to his home in early October. Now he visits his family and friends, many people stop him on his way, asking for a photo together.
It doesn't have to be Christmas time for the kids to hug and talk
- says.
He visited the small village of Bakony with pleasure. His meeting with his schoolmate, Tibor Fazekas, who lives there, whom he had not seen for thirty-nine years, and whom he "found" on the social media site, was touching. Participated in III. Borzavár Off-Road Meeting, and for charity he visited a little girl from Chesnek who had recently had an accident.
Featured image: Loránd Jelényi's family photo
