Where did the Christmas spirit go?? Long.

[fireman17]

I'm going to show my age here so, here it goes. As a child growing up in the late 60's early 70's I can remember living in a small town right outside of Philly and could not wait for the day after Thanksgiving. I was so excited knowing my parents would take me along with my brothers and sister downtown to watch the Christmas parade and the best part waiting for the arrival of Santa and not knowing how he would arrive? Once was by fire truck, once was by helicopter and once he needed to be rescued by the fire department ladder truck it was such an exciting time.
We would make trips to center city Philly to Wanamakers to see the Christmas light show and see Santa and tell him everything we wanted. When I became an adult and married my first wife I now could give my son and daughter the same excitement about seeing Santa and having a picture taken with him.
Now fast forward to the present. I am married to my second wife and have four wonderful children and my 7 year old son wanted to see Santa and have a picture so off to the mall for a picture with Santa all the while knowing I'll be buying the picture. As I get in line I see the sign and it states "Please refrain from taking pictures of your children with Santa unless you make a minimum purchase".
Well, the minimum purchase is two 5x7's for $23.00 gee Santa must also be hit by inflation as well and I just shook my head.
So, what has happened to Christmas spirit once Halloween is over the black Friday sales start and you need to pay for pictures of Santa. What about the family that is just making it by and the kids want that picture of Santa Mom and Dad have to look them in the eye and say sorry kids we just can't do it.
So does it crush the spirit of Santa for them I'm sure in a way it does and that's a shame.
I will do whatever it takes to keep the spirit of Christmas and Santa alive for my children as our senior scout master said at the end of our scout meeting "let's keep Christ in Christmas".
Very well said. Merry Christmas one and all...

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, I am in my late 30s and I recall having to pay for photos to visit Santa at the mall when I was little. It is hwy we did not go see Santa at the mall every year. I always wrote a letter and most years we found him somewhere (the REAL him--only a fake would charge kids to visit!) so I really do not think it is a new thing.
My kids only made 1-2 mall visits in their lives as well. (they will be 12 and 14 next week). We saw him at Santa's Village amusement park (yes, you pay for the park, but not to visit once in and it was a fabulous family day). We saw him at community center events, at church and once even at the library.
SO I am willing to bet that if you look around you can find places where it IS free--you may just be hitting all the wrong places this year.

 

[Mermaid02]

We have a small, outdated mall here (along with the big shiny one) and that little mall allows you to take your own Santa photo for nothing!

 

[bicker]

I don't have Christmas memories, given that I've never been Christian, but the same situation prevails with regard to many events in our society. A century or two ago, a Jew getting Bar Mitzvah'ed was all about the idea of reading from the torah, of coming of age, of being regarded as an adult, etc. Now, a lot of what it is is tied up in the kind of party there is afterward, and/or the big gifts. I remember growing up how my most fervent wish for vacation was for my family to go to WDW, to ride those ride and have those experiences. Budgeting for souvenirs is far more a consideration now than it was then, I suspect.

But don't climb on the anti-commercialism bandwagon too quickly. The reality is that a shockingly high amount of the standard of living that many Americans enjoy is built on top of this commercialism. Take away the commercialism, and the United States would likely look a lot more like a Baltic country. Practically everyone would be worse-off to some extent, and some people would be much worse off.

 

[2Kds2K9]

I agree that when it comes to Santa, it should be all about the kids. When my kids were still believers, just a few short years ago, our mall allowed parents to take one picture with Santa. Fair enough.

Years ago when I was in college, there was a mall close by and I loved to sit and watch the Santa with the kids. He spent a lot of time chatting with each child and had some "magical dust" that he used in his story. It really gave you a warm feeling of Chirtmas to see the amazement in their eyes!

Merry Christmas!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm going to show my age here so, here it goes. As a child growing up in the late 60's early 70's I can remember living in a small town right outside of Philly and could not wait for the day after Thanksgiving. I was so excited knowing my parents would take me along with my brothers and sister downtown to watch the Christmas parade and the best part waiting for the arrival of Santa and not knowing how he would arrive? Once was by fire truck, once was by helicopter and once he needed to be rescued by the fire department ladder truck it was such an exciting time.
We would make trips to center city Philly to Wanamakers to see the Christmas light show and see Santa and tell him everything we wanted. When I became an adult and married my first wife I now could give my son and daughter the same excitement about seeing Santa and having a picture taken with him.
Now fast forward to the present. I am married to my second wife and have four wonderful children and my 7 year old son wanted to see Santa and have a picture so off to the mall for a picture with Santa all the while knowing I'll be buying the picture. As I get in line I see the sign and it states "Please refrain from taking pictures of your children with Santa unless you make a minimum purchase".
Well, the minimum purchase is two 5x7's for $23.00 gee Santa must also be hit by inflation as well and I just shook my head.
So, what has happened to Christmas spirit once Halloween is over the black Friday sales start and you need to pay for pictures of Santa. What about the family that is just making it by and the kids want that picture of Santa Mom and Dad have to look them in the eye and say sorry kids we just can't do it.
So does it crush the spirit of Santa for them I'm sure in a way it does and that's a shame.
I will do whatever it takes to keep the spirit of Christmas and Santa alive for my children as our senior scout master said at the end of our scout meeting "let's keep Christ in Christmas".
Very well said. Merry Christmas one and all...

My dd is almost 20 and they had those signs up when she was little.

That being said we celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday since we are no longer Christian.

I do not have up one single decoration right now. I find that the "spirit" of Christmas is still there, as I hum my favorite Christmas songs.

The "spirit of Christmas" is something that is just your matter of perspective. You can pour it on as little or as light as you want.

 

[monkeybug]

I'm going to show my age here so, here it goes. As a child growing up in the late 60's early 70's I can remember living in a small town right outside of Philly and could not wait for the day after Thanksgiving. I was so excited knowing my parents would take me along with my brothers and sister downtown to watch the Christmas parade and the best part waiting for the arrival of Santa and not knowing how he would arrive? Once was by fire truck, once was by helicopter and once he needed to be rescued by the fire department ladder truck it was such an exciting time.
We would make trips to center city Philly to Wanamakers to see the Christmas light show and see Santa and tell him everything we wanted. When I became an adult and married my first wife I now could give my son and daughter the same excitement about seeing Santa and having a picture taken with him.
Now fast forward to the present. I am married to my second wife and have four wonderful children and my 7 year old son wanted to see Santa and have a picture so off to the mall for a picture with Santa all the while knowing I'll be buying the picture. As I get in line I see the sign and it states "Please refrain from taking pictures of your children with Santa unless you make a minimum purchase".
Well, the minimum purchase is two 5x7's for $23.00 gee Santa must also be hit by inflation as well and I just shook my head.
So, what has happened to Christmas spirit once Halloween is over the black Friday sales start and you need to pay for pictures of Santa. What about the family that is just making it by and the kids want that picture of Santa Mom and Dad have to look them in the eye and say sorry kids we just can't do it.
So does it crush the spirit of Santa for them I'm sure in a way it does and that's a shame.
I will do whatever it takes to keep the spirit of Christmas and Santa alive for my children as our senior scout master said at the end of our scout meeting "let's keep Christ in Christmas".
Very well said. Merry Christmas one and all...

We've never paid to see Santa, and we have had Santa pictures every year for the past 8 years. Where we live now Santa is at the National Tree (in DC) in a little log cabin (very adorable) and you get a free 5x7. They also have a great Santa and a great a beautiful (if you can believe it) set up at the Bass pro shop near here. They also give a free 5x7.
We have pictures with Santa from all over the place, and we never paid for any (well, we gave a donation for one once, but it was optional).

 

[smb6]

Around here they have santa at the library, walmart, kmart, chickfila, and more and you can take all the free p ics you want- walmart even gives you a free pic w/santa! And the lines are much, much shorter than the mall.

 

[Hoodie]

You still get a free picture with Santa at Bass Pro Shops!

We never went to the Mall Santa. We had numerous "Breakfast with Santa" events locally. Usually a minimum payment for a polaroid picture ($5 or so).

 

[Metro West]

I don't remember if we paid for photos with Santa or not...I tend to think we didn't since a family friend dressed up as Santa and came by the house on Christmas Eve so we took pictures with Santa in our living room in front of the fire. The gentleman (a high school friend of my father's) did that every year until I was 16 or so...so he was Santa to me and let me tell you...he looked real! It was very sad when he passed away a few years later.

I miss the things we used to do/see when we where kids. I guess that's a bygone era.

 

[Acklander]

I think the difference is that a store will cover the cost of Santa as a way to draw people in. The mall Santa is paid for by the mall, not a specific store, so they charge to cover Santa and Santa's helpers time. At least that's the way I've always seen it.

 

[bicker]

I have to worry, a bit, when that's not the case: How often is a small store Santa subjected to lesser background checking?

 

[Pakey]

Years ago (I grew up in the 50's/60's)) Santa was probably a volunteer, a retired grandfather.

Today, Santa needs an income. His employer is paying wages and workers comp insurance, unemployment insurance, etc. Who knows, they may even have to have liability insurance for when the parents sue because their child didn't get what he/she asked for from Santa.

 

[tazdev3225]

I'm going to show my age here so, here it goes. As a child growing up in the late 60's early 70's I can remember living in a small town right outside of Philly and could not wait for the day after Thanksgiving. I was so excited knowing my parents would take me along with my brothers and sister downtown to watch the Christmas parade and the best part waiting for the arrival of Santa and not knowing how he would arrive? Once was by fire truck, once was by helicopter and once he needed to be rescued by the fire department ladder truck it was such an exciting time.
We would make trips to center city Philly to Wanamakers to see the Christmas light show and see Santa and tell him everything we wanted. When I became an adult and married my first wife I now could give my son and daughter the same excitement about seeing Santa and having a picture taken with him.
Now fast forward to the present. I am married to my second wife and have four wonderful children and my 7 year old son wanted to see Santa and have a picture so off to the mall for a picture with Santa all the while knowing I'll be buying the picture. As I get in line I see the sign and it states "Please refrain from taking pictures of your children with Santa unless you make a minimum purchase".
Well, the minimum purchase is two 5x7's for $23.00 gee Santa must also be hit by inflation as well and I just shook my head.
So, what has happened to Christmas spirit once Halloween is over the black Friday sales start and you need to pay for pictures of Santa. What about the family that is just making it by and the kids want that picture of Santa Mom and Dad have to look them in the eye and say sorry kids we just can't do it.
So does it crush the spirit of Santa for them I'm sure in a way it does and that's a shame.
I will do whatever it takes to keep the spirit of Christmas and Santa alive for my children as our senior scout master said at the end of our scout meeting "let's keep Christ in Christmas".
Very well said. Merry Christmas one and all...

I remember all those wonderful parades although I have been banned from attending the Thanksgiving Parade for over 40 years. I lost my brother and didn't tell my mom I told a policeman. I was 10. Anyway I digress. I also remember the Enchanted Village at Lit Bros.

I totally understand what you are saying. I know my parents always took us to see the Santas and there was a nominal fee charged. This was before everyone, even the kids, had cameras. It was about the kids and the experience. Santa also didn't appear before Thanksgiving, the stores were magically transformed overnight into Christmas wonderlands and there was no such thing as Christmas in July. No sign of the season before the season.

I went with my kids to see the grandkids visit Santa at the local mall a few years ago. The sign said that pics were allowed with the minimum purchase and I asked before hand. A new worker joined the crew and I was chased by security who tried to take my camera from me. My 3 kids each purchased the minimal package and then some. My grandkids were terrified by the Santa who was less than friendly and the incident. My oldest DD is barely making ends meet and can not afford even the minimal package this year. I would have paid it for her to let the kids experience Santa but not anymore. The malls now have a sign that says no personal photos are allowed. I was able to take a few extra that captured some of the best moments of the kids. We will be going to the lunch with Santa at my church and I will get pics of the kids. The only problem is my DGD knows it is her Big Pop and has played an elf for him at charitable events that he volunteers at. We have managed to convince her that he is one of Santas helpers and reports to the "Real" Santa at the end of every event.

As others have posted there are other ways to see Santa but for some reason to the kids that believe the Mall Santa is the real one.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I have to worry, a bit, when that's not the case: How often is a small store Santa subjected to lesser background checking?

This is really something that you think about?

 

[bicker]

This comes up so often in the CB that I'm surprised that you didn't think of it yourself.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

This comes up so often in the CB that I'm surprised that you didn't think of it yourself.

I just don't think about "victim" stuff like that. I really can't explain why.

 

[bicker]

It is critical, these days, to keep this sort of thing in mind, especially if you're involved in providing any service to the community, even free services, but even more so for money. Many institutions, ranging from public schools, to religious institutions, to museums, have standing and/or operating committees devoted to being concerned about things like this.

 

[Colleen27]

You just need to find a better place for the pictures. We have our kids' pictures taken at an Old Newsboys fundraiser. Sure, the "photo package" is printed on an HP Photosmart that someone lends to the cause, but the photographer is a professional who donates his time, the cost is a voluntary donation of cash, non-perishable food, or new toys, it goes to a good cause, and they don't care if I use my own camera and make more prints later at CVS.

 

[Colleen27]

I have to worry, a bit, when that's not the case: How often is a small store Santa subjected to lesser background checking?

I can't imagine why it would matter. We're not talking about an adult who is responsible for children in their parents' absence, like a coach or a scout leader or a teacher.