“Merry Christmas!”
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Tracy Whisnant 704-477-7391 S Select tracywhisnant@remax.net www.shelbyinfo.com Our 42ND Year • Issue No. 51 • December 18, 2025
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Karl and Debbie Assad prove Santa is more than a red suit By Alan Hodge Most anyone can dress like Santa and Mrs. Claus, but when Karl and Debbie Assad of Blacksburg don that garb they make the true spirit of Christmas shine as bright as the Star of Bethlehem. Just one look at the pair proves they have the appearance of Santa and Mrs. Claus down pat, but it’s the love and caring they bring to their roles that puts them in a higher plane than many others who portray those iconic Christmas characters. The Assads go by the names of “Santa Najib” and “Mama Claus”. Najib is Karl’s middle name and a nod to his Lebanese ancestry. “I go by Mama Claus because that’s what Santa and the elves at the North Pole call me,” Debbie says. You might say that the Covid pandemic of 2020 helped birth Santa Najib and Mama Claus. Karl explained what happened and how he went from a guy with
Karl and Debbie Assad don’t just look like Santa and Mrs. Claus, they’re also filled with the true Christmas spirit. (Photos provided)
short hair and no beard working for Headrick Outdoor Media in Shelby to his present appearance. “I had already moved my office to my home and working there before Covid happened,” Karl says. “Not going out to meet with my customers in person during Covid and doing all work from home, that’s when I decided to grow the beard.” The facial and head hair flourished. “It started getting pretty long and people began The Assads with a horse and carriage ride saying I looked at Alexander Homestead Wedding Venue like either Santa or in Charlotte, where they have an annual Jerry Garcia of the Christmas event for the community. Grateful Dead,”
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Karl with Joshua who also portrays an elf at events with the Assads. Debbie is Joshua’s nanny.
The prayer book where Karl and Debbie write down names of children and adults they pray for at Christmas.
The Assads on their float at this year’s Kings Mountain Christmas Parade. Also on the float is Joshua and granddaughter Isabella Duncan whose elf name is Bella Izz.
said Karl. “It was Debbie’s idea for me to portray Santa,” Karl says. “I asked her if she wanted to be Mrs. Claus. She agreed and that’s
how we started.” The pair started out their impression low-key. “I said I didn’t care if we just
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rode around and made people smile,” Debbie says. The idea quickly took off. See SANTA, Page 6
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