1 / 9   This winter, the Santa Claus coming down your chimney may have graduated from this Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, in the US.

2 / 9   Becoming a Santa is nothing simple. One needs to have much more than a benign face to become a beloved Santa.

3 / 9   Santas laugh and enjoy the class when they learn about Santa Spirit.

4 / 9   Santas and Mrs Claus greet a child.

5 / 9   Thomas Valent, dean of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, sits in the Santa House.

6 / 9   Santas practice breathing techniques to laugh a perfect “Ho Ho Ho”.

7 / 9   A Santa-to-be, Randy Schneider, learns wood toy making.

8 / 9   A Santa-to-be listens to a reindeer.

9 / 9   A Santa-to-be, Leon McBryde, performs for an audience.