You know the scene. The hair comes down, the glasses go off, and suddenly the strict schoolteacher of Sombertown is singing a psychedelic 1970s power ballad about how her world is beginning today.
It’s a bit of a trip.
If you grew up watching the Rankin/Bass holiday specials, you definitely remember Jessica from Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town. She isn’t the typical, cookie-baking, grandmotherly figure we usually see living at the North Pole. She’s younger, red-haired, and honestly, she has a lot more personality than most versions of Mrs. Claus. She basically starts out as a cog in the machine of a depressed, toy-hating police state and ends up as the co-founder of Christmas.
Who Exactly Is Miss Jessica?
Before she was Mrs. Claus, she was simply Miss Jessica, the schoolteacher in Sombertown. This place was a total drag. It was ruled by Burgermeister Meisterburger, a man who literally outlawed toys because he tripped on a wooden duck once.
Jessica was the "good citizen" type. She followed the rules. But then Kris Kringle shows up with his illegal toy delivery service, and everything changes.
What's cool about her character is that she doesn't just fall for Kris because he’s a nice guy. She falls for the rebellion. When she sees the joy the toys bring her students, she realizes the laws she’s been following are garbage. She's the one who eventually helps the Kringles escape and joins them in their exile.
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The Voice Behind the Magic: Robie Lester
The voice is what really sells the character. Robie Lester provided both the speaking and singing voice for Jessica, and she was a powerhouse in the industry. If you think she sounds familiar, you're probably a Disney fan.
Lester was the singing voice for Eva Gabor in The Aristocats (Duchess) and The Rescuers (Miss Bianca). She was also the original "Disneyland Story Reader." If you ever listened to those old records that told you to "turn the page when Tinker Bell rings her little bells," that was her.
In Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, she gives Jessica this perfect mix of prim authority and hidden warmth. It makes her transition from a rule-follower to a revolutionary feel earned.
"My World Is Beginning Today" and the 70s Vibe
Let’s talk about that song.
"My World Is Beginning Today" is a total outlier for a "traditional" Christmas special. Most holiday songs are about snow, reindeer, or bells. This one? It’s a literal psychedelic pop ballad.
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The visuals are wild. You’ve got soft-focus lenses, kaleidoscopic patterns, and Jessica literally letting her hair down. It’s a very 1970s way of showing a woman "finding herself." Critics and fans have pointed out for years how much it feels like a sequence from a different movie, but that’s why it sticks with you.
It’s the moment Jessica stops being a background character and becomes a partner.
Why Jessica Still Matters in Holiday Lore
Most people don't think twice about Mrs. Claus. She's just "there." But Jessica is one of the few versions of the character who has a real origin story.
- She has a first name. Seriously, for decades, Mrs. Claus was just "Mrs. Claus." Giving her a name and a profession (teaching) made her a person.
- She chose the life. She wasn't born a "Christmas person." She saw the injustice in Sombertown and decided to risk her career and safety to help Kris.
- The Style. Let's be real—the red hair and the blue winter coat are iconic.
Interestingly, there’s some fan debate about the timeline of the Rankin/Bass universe. In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mrs. Claus looks much older and has a bit of an accent. In The Year Without a Santa Claus, she looks like an older version of Jessica. Most fans just accept that Jessica is the definitive Mrs. Claus of that universe, even if the animation styles shifted over the years.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often forget that Jessica was technically a lawbreaker.
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She lived in a town where toys were contraband. By accepting a toy from Kris—and then helping him smuggle more—she was basically a black-market accomplice. It adds a bit of grit to a story that’s otherwise about a jolly man in a suit.
She also wasn't just a helper; she was a strategist. When Kris is in jail, Jessica is the one who goes to the Winter Warlock and asks for help. She’s the bridge between the human world of Sombertown and the magical world of the North Woods.
How to Appreciate the Character This Year
If you're watching the special this season, pay attention to the subtle shifts in her character design. She goes from wearing very restrictive, high-collared clothing to the more flowing, "free" look during her big song.
Next Steps for Christmas Fans:
- Watch for the Easter Eggs: Look at the background characters in Sombertown. You can see Jessica’s influence on the children before she ever leaves town.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Check out the full version of "My World Is Beginning Today" on Spotify or YouTube. Robie Lester’s vocal performance is even better when you aren't distracted by the stop-motion puppets.
- Compare the Versions: Put Jessica next to the Mrs. Claus from the 1964 Rudolph special. It’s a fascinating look at how character design changed in just six years of television history.
Jessica is the heart of the story because she represents the audience. We aren't all born as magical toymakers, but we can all choose to stand up for what's right, even if it means moving to the North Pole and living in a castle made of ice.