Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Even Santa's Getting the Old Heave-Ho-Ho-Ho

Gigs cut, pay slashed, big elf not so jolly

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 23, 2008 7:00 AM CST

(Newser) – St. Nick is already doing some serious belt-tightening in New York City as cash-strapped stores and malls head into the not-so-jolly season, thanks to the economy. Far fewer jobs and slashed pay rates are leaving wanna-be Santas with little clause to celebrate.

"This year I'll make 90% less," said one 17-year Santa veteran, who has already lost gigs at a Manhattan mall and a top toy store. "It diminishes my ho-ho-hos," he told the New York Post.

Santa performers line up in London's Leicester Square in London to watch a new film entitled "Santa School: The Film." Sadly, many Santa school grads won't be working this year. (Getty Images)

This Santa's busy, but others will have little to ho-ho about this holiday season. (Getty Images)

Santa Claus attends the 2008 Lord & Taylor holiday window display debut in Manhattan earlier this month. But lots of other wanna-be St. Nicks won't be suiting up this year. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Wrapping Paper Sales on a Tear

Strong figures early indication of shopping rebound

(NEWSER) - Just how lucrative will this holiday season turn out to be for retailers? If wrapping paper sales are any indication, pretty darn good. Both shop owners and the public are awaiting holiday shopping statistics as a clue to American confidence and an economic rebound. An early sign is wrapping paper sales, which appear to be springing back to 2007 highs, reports the Wall Street Journal . Gift wrap sales totaled $9.36 billion in 2010, a 4% increase over the previous year; some companies are expecting sales to be up as much as 10% this year. The Gift Wrap Company is boosting sales with lower-cost rolls of paper and traditional motifs. "It's the traditional colors, traditional Santa icons and snowmen," said a spokesman. "Those kinds of things never go out of style." More»

'Postman Santa' Wins Standoff With US Mail

Letter carrier who threatened to 'go rogue' allowed to don red suit

(NEWSER) - After getting some bad publicity, the US Postal Service has decided not to prevent a kindly, bearded man from wearing a red hat and jacket as he makes his mail deliveries. For the last decade, letter carrier Bob McLean had worn a Santa hat and jacket during the holiday season, but after a colleague this year complained that he was violating the dress code, supervisors told McLean to leave the get-up at home, the Los Angeles Times reports. Management relented after the story got nationwide attention and McLean threatened to "go rogue" and wear the Santa suit anyway. More»

Hostility Grows Over Dutch Blackface Xmas

Activists oppose 'Black Pete' Christmas character

(NEWSER) - One newcomer to the Netherlands says her worst faux pas is to question "Black Pete"—the little African slave who helps out Santa Claus. The Dutch react "in anger and frustration," and even defend their tradition of dressing up publicly in blackface, writes Jessica Olien on Slate . They say Black Pete is only dark from coming down the chimney, but that "doesn't wash": The character dates back to the 1840s, when the Dutch empire was "deeply involved in the slave trade." More»

Man Dressed as Santa Drugs 9th Victim at Market

Girl, 15, may have been given date rape drug

(NEWSER) - A ho-ho-horrible story out of Berlin, where police say a man dressed as Santa drugged a teenager Saturday night at a Christmas market. The suspect offered the 15-year-old girl and her friend a shot of alcohol; the friend refused, but the victim drank both and soon began vomiting. Police say she was apparently given a date rape drug, the AP reports; she was hospitalized and released. Eight other people have recently been left ill or unconscious after similar attacks at Christmas markets in the city, although the suspect is usually dressed normally. More»

RI Christians Revolt Over 'Holiday Tree'

Carolers crash tree lighting as Catholics hold competing event

(NEWSER) - When Scott Walker rechristened Wisconsin’s Capitol "holiday tree" a "Christmas tree," the atheists revolted ; now, in Rhode Island, the opposite is happening. When the governor unveiled the Statehouse "holiday tree," angry carolers crashed last night's tree lighting, interrupting a children's chorus to sing "O Christmas Tree." Meanwhile, a block away, the local Catholic diocese held a competing Christmas tree lighting. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Even Santa's Getting the Old Heave-Ho-Ho-Ho

Gigs cut, pay slashed, big elf not so jolly

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

holiday • Christmas • Santa Claus • This Christmas • financial crisis • holiday season • Christmas shopping

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Wrapping Paper Sales on a Tear

Strong figures early indication of shopping rebound

'Postman Santa' Wins Standoff With US Mail

Letter carrier who threatened to 'go rogue' allowed to don red suit

Hostility Grows Over Dutch Blackface Xmas

Activists oppose 'Black Pete' Christmas character

Man Dressed as Santa Drugs 9th Victim at Market

Girl, 15, may have been given date rape drug

RI Christians Revolt Over 'Holiday Tree'

Carolers crash tree lighting as Catholics hold competing event

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Even Santa's Getting the Old Heave-Ho-Ho-Ho

Gigs cut, pay slashed, big elf not so jolly

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

holiday • Christmas • Santa Claus • This Christmas • financial crisis • holiday season • Christmas shopping

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Wrapping Paper Sales on a Tear

Strong figures early indication of shopping rebound

'Postman Santa' Wins Standoff With US Mail

Letter carrier who threatened to 'go rogue' allowed to don red suit

Hostility Grows Over Dutch Blackface Xmas

Activists oppose 'Black Pete' Christmas character

Man Dressed as Santa Drugs 9th Victim at Market

Girl, 15, may have been given date rape drug

RI Christians Revolt Over 'Holiday Tree'

Carolers crash tree lighting as Catholics hold competing event

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?