Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (And Now You Can I.M. Him).

editors — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:15:00 GMT

I have always been a sucker for the “Yes Virginia” essay. They play it over the radio in my hometown on Christmas Eve and by the time the announcer’s voice boldly states “No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood,” I always have tears in my eyes.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should probably consider coming out from under that rock, but I will explain anyway. In 1897, an eight year old girl named Virginia O’Hanlon wrote to the editor of the New York Sun asking whether or not Santa Claus was real. Her logic was that the Sun knew everything, so if they said Santa was real it must be true. Faced with this dilemma, Francis P. Church wrote a beautiful, poetic response that sentimentalists like me still read to this day.

So what to do if you’ve got your own Virginia this Christmas season? No need to write to the Times. Your little doubter can just log on and chat directly with the man in red because Santa has recently set up his own website.

CaféMom’s Entertainment Buzz reports that kids can now chat with Santa via instant message by going to thisisSanta.com. The site was created by a company called Virsona. CafeMom reports, “The company creates online virtual personas that ‘come to life’ by entering an archive of memories, events and information that teach the virtual character to respond to questions." Even if your kids are die-hard Santa believers, they will probably just like telling him what they want for Christmas!

I tested out the site and it is pretty cool, although some of Santa's responses felt a little stiff ("I am looking forward to Christmas very much") and he did misinterpret a few of my questions (he told me he got my letter when I asked if he got me a present). Older kids might be suspicious of some of these glitches, but it still feels pretty magical. Just be sure to help guide the questions.

If you're in the mood for some more old fashioned Christmas spirit, howevwer, you can click on the link to read "Yes, Virginia."

- Lindsay Armstrong

(Photo taken from www.post-gazette.com)

Santa Shortage Strikes Germany

JeanneSager — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:31:00 GMT

It's no surprise the requirements to be hired on as Santa Claus in Germany are exacting. In Teutonic tradition, the engineering of a German Santa takes stock of the tenor of the voice, the quality of the accent, the background in carols. Are they asking too much?

Apparently, yes. As the European economy falters, there's one employer still searching high and wide for good candidates. Yes, Virginia, in Germany there is a shortage of Santa Clauses.

According to a report in London's Sunday Times, recruitment is off by German Santa placement agencies (yes, they exist) this year in ever section of the country. Compounding the problem is a record number of private parties being thrown by families trying to offset the grim economy with a little holiday cheer. They're trying to book a Santa, and the jolly old man can't make it.

If it sounds silly, check out the paycheck. These Santas - who work the malls as well as the family party circuit, make as much as sixty euros an hour. Using the latest exchange rate, that's about $76 an hour. To smile a lot and be nice to some kids? Sign me up for that gig. Of course, therein lies the paradox. They're good-paying jobs, but they're not handing them out to just anyone. One Berlin-based recruiter told the Times at least ten percent of applicants are turned away because they don't fit the bill.

What does it really take to be a good Santa? They want a low tenor of voice, an extensive repertoire of Christmas songs and poetry, a jollity and spontaneity and a love of children. To top it off, they can't be "too young." Considering some of the mall Santas I've seen here in the states (who'd put the drunk Saint Nick from the parade scene in Miracle on 34th Street to shame), it might behoove American Santa recruiters to take a page out of the German book.

Of course, we might then be struck by the Santa shortage. But wouldn't you rather have too few good Santas than an overabundance of Billy Bobs?

Image: Amazon

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