Downturn Naughty, Not Nice to Seasonal Santas

Recession killing to holiday cheer
By Michael Roston,  Newser User
Posted Dec 10, 2008 1:23 PM CST
Downturn Naughty, Not Nice to Seasonal Santas
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)

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."
(More Santa Claus stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X