For The Record…
Two things about (commercialized) Christmas that I think are creepy:
1) Seeing little people act as Santa’s elves in Radio Shack and Home Depot commercials, amongst others. It seems demeaning in a really uncomfortable, obnoxious way. I know I don’t really have the authority to speak on the subject, and clearly these actors choose to be cast in these roles, but I gotta say it leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
I really loved seeing Peter Dinklage play the sexy nanny for Sean and Julia in this season’s Nip/Tuck. Not only did it break the stereotypical norm of a woman acting as the childcare specialist, but it put Dinklage in a role where he was desired and made to be seen as a threat to Sean, the husband. I guess to experience that and then click the channel to see little people with elf boots on just makes me a little ill.
2) Santa in the mall. I know it’s a tradition for many parents to have their small child pose with Mall Santa, but it gives me the heebes. I actually considered putting Squid through the trauma, but reconsidered when I remembered how ultimately ridiculous a notion it is to put my baby on a stranger’s lap and wiggle some keys at him in hopes to make him smile. The whole thing is just grotesque to me. When he is older and actually communicates to me, “Mama, I want to sit on Santa…” then I will gladly permit him to go through the ritual. But until then, Mall Santa will just have to wait.
December 21st, 2006 21:02
I have never put my kids in a Mall Santa’s lap. Ever. They are 6 and 1.
They will never go on a mall Santa’s lap either.
Ew.
First I think they’re probably pervs, second, I think it takes the magic out of it. Hello, why would Santa be in a hub of consumerism? He has magical elves that make the toys out of the goodness of their little elf hearts!
December 21st, 2006 22:56
I echo the whole “what would Santa be doing in a mall, anyway?!” thought…and then toss in this sidebar that the Santa at the mall where I work can most often be found wandering around the stores, bags in hand from various places, (were I a kid, I’d be filled with questions about why Santa had to shop),or totally zoning out in one of the chairs far away from the grand tree set-up where people are waiting for him. It’s creepy!
December 22nd, 2006 09:33
You want creepy? As a kid I used to trip my sister a lot. One day near Christmas a television Santa looked straight out the screen (black and white) at me and scolded, “And you, little boy, quit tripping your sister.” Scared the heck out of me and stopped the tripping. Found out later my mom had called in the station and asked them to have the Santa say that.
December 19th, 2007 10:22
[…] Last year I made a big deal about how creepy mall Santas are and how I would never subject Squid to posing with one. But then Easter rolled around and we were in the mall and Squid really was loving the Easter Bunny. So we did the photo. Now it’s Xmas again and all the malls have their Santas out, waiting and ready. I don’t know…should I go for it or not? I think it might be really cute to have, just so I could pull the photo out when Squid is 15 (eek!) and go, Tada! I know I would love to see a pic. of me when I was tiny posing with Santa, even if it was the worst photo ever. […]