Ho Ho...Uh Oh...Oh No

There are very few rites of passage that are as ingrained in my childhood memories as the memories of going to the mall and getting a picture taken with Santa Claus. I can remember going to PG Plaza or Beltway Plaza or New Carrollton Mall and having my photo taken along with my brother sitting on Santa's lap. We probably did that ritualistic act a handful of times in my childhood but seeing Santa sitting in the mall as Christmas approaches is always something that stirs those memories for me. And even though we only have a few of those actual photos tucked away somewhere, the standards that some of those Santa's set always set a standard for me by which I would later judge all Mall Santas.

Now it seems like a stretch to imagine that such a thing should matter to anyone but it most certainly does. When you are a child and you still cling to that belief that Santa is indeed real then I know that many parents want to ensure that the experience of seeing the 'big man' is as close to expectations as possible which is why the 'authenticity' of mall Santas is important. I mean I remember one year where my brother and I had our photo taken with Santa and though this Santa had a snowy white beard and a sizeable stomach, we were rather surprised to find out that Santa was in actuality a woman who was wearing a fat suit and a fake beard. It freaked me out somewhat to consider that Santa would actually allow a woman to play his role. I say Santa would allow because at that point I still believed in Santa Claus but I also knew that there was no way he could be at all malls simultaneously if he was supposed to be making the toys for Christmas. Still, I figured that perhaps times were tough and actors hard to come by so he hired a woman.

But it seems that times are still rather tough and even mall Santas are feeling the downturn in the economy. Case in point is the Santa who has worked at Tysons Corner Mall for the last 18 years. Michael Graham is a carpenter from Tennessee who has worked a temporary gig at Tysons Corner Mall for a long time and has counted on the $30,000 he makes for the role to help keep he and his family afloat. He's what I would term a 'good Santa' in the sense that he takes the role seriously. He is a bit rotund, and sports an actual snowy white beard. He has three suits to account for normal wear-and-tear and the occasional accident (some kids are not yet potty trained when they first meet Santa and the excitement is a bit much to.... contain). And by his own accounts, he takes the role quite seriously. He isn't involved just to make the cash and 'waste' a few weeks listening to kids talk about what they want for Christmas. He listens to the kids and 'looks them in the eye' to make each and every one of his visitors feel important and so that they feel that indeed, Santa has heard their wish.

Unfortunately, it seems like Michael Graham's time at Tysons Corner is finally up. Although his contract with the mall was set to run until 2012, he was recently told that he would no longer be needed at the mall as the mall was going with another company to set up shop in the mall center to take photos and play the role of Santa. Now not to knock the new Santa even before he (or she... don't want to be accused of sexism) takes on the role, but is that the way you want to treat someone given that for some kids, he has been the epitome of Santa at their local mall for so long? I can remember seeing different Santa's every year that I took photos with one but having one that would have been the same for so long would have been 'comforting' in a way. As it is reality sinks in fast for so many kids so it's nice to have some permanancy in fantasy and imagination for a while. Kids eventually learn the truth but why spoil it for them? Let them enjoy the fantasy for a while and let someone who appreciates and understands the role continue to fulfill so many kids imaginations.

At this point in the year it is already too late for Michael Graham to sign with another mall. When he first took on the role 23 years ago in Tennessee it was because his local mall's Santa had suffered a heart attack and he was a last minute replacement. Since then he has worked consistently for many years and now can relate to Terrance Howard, the actor from "Iron Man" who was similarly removed without prior knowledge or warning from the "Iron Man" sequel even though he had a contract. Now with the market in flux and the fact that he is suddenly $30,000 short of his yearly income, Graham faces foreclosure on his home. I realize that times are tough and everyone has to take a hit now and again but I don't think its fair to end his contract the way it did without any prior warning. Even though Christmas is still two months away, it's already like the Grinch has taken control. Bah Humbug.