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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Downturn Naughty, Not Nice to Seasonal Santas

Recession killing to holiday cheer

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(Newser) – If you dress up as Santa Claus for extra holiday holly, you may need a miracle on 34th Street to make it through Christmas. The recession has spread to the North Pole, reports the Boston Globe, as Santas-for-hire find less work due to scaled-back Christmas party budgets and report rising costs for everything from dry cleaning that red suit to candy canes.

A surge in would-be St. Nicks are squeezing the market, to boot, as people try to make up for lost wages elsewhere. The dean of a Michigan school for would-be-Kris Kringles is worried that too many applicants have cash, not Christmas, in mind. "I don't know what's really in their heart, but it seems like they're trying to capitalize on something really good."

Santa Claus reads a story to children from military families as Mrs. Claus holds two children at right during the Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
Santa Claus reads a story to children from military families as Mrs. Claus holds two children at right during the Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
People dressed as Santa Claus cross Fifth Avenue near St. Patrick's Cathedral during the annual Sidewalk Santa parade in New York, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008.
People dressed as Santa Claus cross Fifth Avenue near St. Patrick's Cathedral during the annual Sidewalk Santa parade in New York, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Santa Claus student Tom Carmendy dresses up as Santa Claus and reads to elementary school children during the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School workshop on October 17, 2008 in Midland, Michigan.
Santa Claus student Tom Carmendy dresses up as Santa Claus and reads to elementary school children during the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School workshop on October 17, 2008 in Midland, Michigan.   (Getty Images)
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Everything's gone up, even the products I buy. We hand out candy canes and bookmarkers and little toy tops - and they've gone up, too. - Walter Finch of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts

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