Where did the Christmas spirit go?? Long.

[Acklander]

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

My kid is sitting on Santa's lap for 5 minutes right in front of me, I'm not sending him home with Santa for a sleepover.

 

[fairygirl]

Some of my family in Kentucky had a similar problem - they live in a small county with few major stores. The ones they do have charge fees. So, various family members take turns dressing up as Santa every year. All the kids can bring their friends and their families over. Then it is like Santa is visiting them at their own house! This did require investment in a Santa suit, which they basically bought a hat and one of the family members actually made the suit. You can usually find them cheap online if you want to instate that tradition. It has always worked out well and creates very special (and often humorous) memories for the adults. AND no waiting in a massive line of children!

 

[bicker]

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.

My kid is sitting on Santa's lap for 5 minutes right in front of me, I'm not sending him home with Santa for a sleepover.

Yup I can understand that, but I can (and in my position, sometimes must) understand and consider the perspective of parents who may not be as unconcerned.

 

[kinntj]

My husband took our two girls to the mall this past weekend and he took pictures with our own camera. They showed him the packages available and they also said he could take his own. He did.

If they started denying our own pictures, we would probably go elsewhere that has a Santa. Around here, there's towns that have him available at Firestations, VFW halls, gardening Nurserys, etc.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

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...

ITA Fireman17, Merry Christmas!!

 

[moon]

I don't know how much it costs to have your picture with Santa at our nearest mall, but I've seen some children who go up to him just to talk, and they leave with candy and a book even if they didn't take/buy a picture. I think that's nice. I believe the parents get more upset than the kiddies about the picture; to them meeting Santa, plus getting candy and the book must be a real treat.

The Christmas setting where Santa sits is truly spectacular. It must cost quite a bit to set up and mantain. Can you imagine if parents were allowed to take pictures without paying? No one would buy a picture, or at least not enough people to keep the place going. It also employs at least seven people plus Santa. They work all day, so it is a full time, albeit a temporary job. I can see why it costs so much

I'm glad that at least every kid can meet with Santa and get treats just like those who pay. The picture is a bonus for those who can afford it. Not a bad deal, really

 

[Becky2005]

Mall Santas have always charged. I've never known them not to. Even the Santa at Santa's village charged for the picture at his house.

About the only Santa that doesn't charge would be one coming to a Park District event (which you usuall pay to attend) or some other special event.

 

[fireman17]

The point I was trying to make and I apologize if I didn't make myself clear was, I know you have to pay for the photos and even years ago you had to pay for photos. But, back then you could take pictures yourself and nothing was said nowadays don't dare show up with a camera. I've even heard stories of security being called for someone trying to take their own photos with a phone camera.
To me, it's just ridiculous...

 

[Robinrs]

The point I was trying to make and I apologize if I didn't make myself clear was, I know you have to pay for the photos and even years ago you had to pay for photos. But, back then you could take pictures yourself and nothing was said nowadays don't dare show up with a camera. I've even heard stories of security being called for someone trying to take their own photos with a phone camera.
To me, it's just ridiculous...

I got your point.

God bless you and Merry CHRISTmas!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not sure we have ever done the mall santa. We might have once or twice with our kids.

I do recall that mall Santa's have always charged for photos and it never occurred to me to take photos of that.

When we went to Disney, I was surprised when they said we could take photos.

Other times, we find Santa at celebrations and such. But the kids never actually request to go see Santa and I'm find with that too.

I'm guessing the booths need to make money and they were losing it to lots of customers taking their own pictures and not spending, so they had to make the rule.

 

[bicker]

To me, it's just ridiculous...

I believe what you're seeing is the impact of such pervasive and rampant exploitative behaviors in our society. In the past, it was rare when people would essentially utilize a for-a-fee service to accomplish their own objectives, without paying, and it was assumed, perhaps, that in those cases it was warranted for some broadly valid reason. What's clear, now, is that far too many people consider their own personal financial enrichment as a valid reason for essentially taking something and paying nothing for it. We've had a major reaction in society to all manner of exploitation. Increasingly it is becoming clear that measures must be taken to ensure whatever fees that are in place are paid somehow, since so many people seem so ready to game the system for their own benefit. The more people try to make things better for themselves at the expense of others (in this case, the folks who pay to have the Santas there), the more draconian measures need to be applied to ensure that those people aren't successful in their efforts to get something for nothing.

 

[dismom2]

"let's keep Christ in Christmas".
Very well said. Merry Christmas one and all...

Fireman17: I agree... "let's keep Christ in Christmas".

Merry Christmas

By the way, I ran a into a Santa at a free function that did not charge this year..I was so happy.

 

[cm8]

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.

Agreed!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

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 could be wrong (I'm not a Christian), but since when does keeping Christ in Christmas include getting free pictures of Santa?

I don't' know about your mall but in our mall Santa is a huge production (as is the Easter Bunny). Lots of big decorations, multiple elves running around handing out candy canes and they even had a reindeer on hand one year. All of this cost lots of money that needs to be made back in the form of picture packages.

If they let people take pictures with their own camera they are probably not going to make much money in picture sales. And unfortunately they can't say "this family is poor so they can take pictures for free but your family makes enough money so you have to pay."

 

[npmommie]

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.

yep here too. the Dollar Store even had santa last week, and you could bring your own camera.

we went to a party in town, and the hostess had the town fire truck show up with one of the firemen dressed as santa.
our town does this one weekend a season, you call and tell them where you live and they come by.
free, and the kids get a small gift and we take a pic

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).

we do the Bass Pro every year now
they put on a wonderful display of Santa's Wonderland. and its all free.

The point I was trying to make and I apologize if I didn't make myself clear was, I know you have to pay for the photos and even years ago you had to pay for photos. But, back then you could take pictures yourself and nothing was said nowadays don't dare show up with a camera. I've even heard stories of security being called for someone trying to take their own photos with a phone camera.
To me, it's just ridiculous...

I also think it is ridiculous.
we did the mall santa a couple of times, it was always the same one at our local mall, and he was so authentic, but they always let me take my own pic, I also bought theirs, but their prices were reasonable when we did it.
now I noticed at one other mall, the cheapest pic was a package to buy for $23.

we stopped doing the mall santa about 4/5 years ago, now we either go to a local event, museum, etc or Bass Pro.

 

[bicker]

I could be wrong (I'm not a Christian), but since when does keeping Christ in Christmas include getting free pictures of Santa?

Precisely. I really am concerned when I see people use such folksy exhortations to excuse all manner of self-serving philosophy. The only legitimate operationalizations of "keeping Christ in Christmas" (and I'm also not a Christian, so this is also an impartial outsider's view) would be within the church, and perhaps within the home. There were no mega-malls in Galilee; there were no Best Buys in Nazareth.

 

[C.Ann]

Showing my age now too (61) I don't recall my parents ever having to pay for a picture with Santa - nor did I with my own kids.. We weren't mall people though.. We were usually attending a Christmas party (free of charge) at a VFW; school; church; firehouse; etc..

As for keeping the religious aspect in Christmas, that can be done as well - if people choose to..

Another thing this thread reminded me of.. When I was a child, the time from Thanksgiving until Christmas seemed like it was a good 3 months long - LOL.. When I became the "adult" - in charge of shopping, decorating, baking, attending functions; etc., it suddenly seemed like it was about 3 hours..

 

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

We like taking our kids to Story Book Land to see Santa. The ones at the malls are no fun. At SBL, Santa and Mrs. Claus are awesome! You can take your own pictures or you can pay a small fee for theirs. Plus you get so much more at SBL. There are thousands of lights, rides, a fake snow machine, animals and more!

 

[Planogirl]

We love spending Thanksgiving in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and did so about three times. (Sadly it's been a while though.) You might appreciate what they do.

The town decorates a small park in downtown and people gather. They are waiting for Santa to arrive. The last time we were there he arrived riding on a blaring fire truck. The kids lined up to visit with him and I don't remember anyone pushing pictures. I think that you could buy some but you could also take your own shots.

 

[dismom2]

I could be wrong (I'm not a Christian), but since when does keeping Christ in Christmas include getting free pictures of Santa?

For me there is no correlation between santa and the commercialization that Christmas has become and my religious celebration of the birth of Christ.

In my post I just added a comment that we happened to get pictures with a Santa at a function we attended, and there was no charge. Personally, I too think the mall overcharges for their pictures and no longer partake. I don't seek out Santa for photos or anything else, but if we run across one charging $5 or nothing, sometimes we'll take a picture just for fun. My family is Christian and our main goal is to remember the true (to our beliefs) meaning of Christmas, though we do partake in the commercialism aspect of gift-exchanging as well. But, out kids do know the difference, and that's what matters for us.