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Show The Wien Inside The Red Suits Are Finally Revealed by Matt Thurm" Kellogg Forum staff writer been about eleven years since my last visit to see Santa Claus at the shopping mall. Back then, I went along with it to humor my mother, now Im going along with it to humor my editor. I visited three malls and asked three Santas what Christmas means to them, what problems they have dealing with parents and kids, and finally, why do they do it. After introducing myself and my purpose, the Sugarhouse Santa screamed out the most aggressive HO, HO, HO Ive ever heard. Great, I thought, this guy wont get out of his Santa routine. When asked what its like to be Santa Claus, he replied: Well, when I get into that big red suit, I change, I become Santa. For a while, this guy really seemed to think he was Santa all year round. I began to expect a couple of muscle-boun- d guys in white suits come in and throw him into a padded wagon when he finally told me he is a baker in the The Sugarhouse Santa has been tactfully dealing with kids and parents requests for the past 10 years. To me, Christmas means joy, happi Its off-seaso- n. ness and magic, he said. The Sugarhouse Santa said that when kids ask for cars or other unrealistic toys, he usually tells them hell try, but he wont promise anything. In the Crossroads Mall, I approached another Santa who seemed more convincing than the one in Sugarhouse. The Crossroads Santa seemed to have loads of personality and charm, which made kids less afraid to approach him. When asked what he considered the biggest problem about Christmas, Santa said keeping up with the latest toys was difficult, as well as Keeping the elves from going on strike! Ho! Ho! Ho! The Crossroads Santa said he rarely has problems with pushy parents or kids, Im big, he said (with a smile, of course), they dont mess with me. He also said when kids ask for unrealistic toys, he either tells them there is not enough room in his sled, or they will have to wait until they get cider. That is sound advice for anyone whos interested in getting into his line of work. On the serious side, the Crossroads Santa believes that Christmas is a time for giving and helping other people. The ZCMI Mall Santa seemed not quite Linge Family Owns Linge said one of the familys main Christmas store is purposes in an the concept of people being able to pur- by Lynette Rundell Forum staff writer all-ye- ar Is Christmas too commercialized? With d the availability of shopping for year-roun- Christmas ornaments and Christmas villages, one might think that so. Twelve months of commercialized Christmas is never too much for the Linge family, owners of the Christmas Cottage in Valley Fair Mall and three other stores located in St. George, Las Vegas and West Yellowstone. We love Christmas somuch, saidTraci Linge; daughter and manager of their West Yellowstone store, that we opened the store in Valley Fair Mall four years ago. The family business started about eight years ago when their grandfather invented a tree with an electronic Christmas tree lights built into the branches. The trees were sold out of their home and became so successful, said Linge, they decided to expand and open a store to sell the trees. They added many other Christmas items to their inventory and turned the store into d Christmas winter wondera land, she said. Sheila Clement, a employee and friend of the Linge family said, A lot of people just love Christmas and come in all year to purchase the collectible Dickens Christmas Village, which she said is one of their most popular items throughout the year. emSherrie Hadley, another two-yeployee, said she loves working at the Christmas Cottage and getting paid for decorating and making wreaths, which is what I really love to do. She said although she this is her busiest time of works part-tim- e, year-roun- ar the year. Page Year-Rou- nd chase Christmasitems throughout the year, rather than having the huge financial burden all at once. People want to sit back and enjoy the holidays with their families rather than face the madness which occurs just before Christmas. as exuberant as the Crossroads Santa, but seemed to be more educated with a more extensive vocabulary. This guy liked Christmas all right, but he seemed to take into account both the good and bad sides of it. When asked how it feels to be Santa, he didnt make up a story about the North Pole or elves; he said its great to talk to the children, but its a drag to feel like Im in a sauna all day. Geez, this suits You think you have had it tough with finals this week. What about Santa? Now he has the biggest final of his entire year. He has to deliver presents to girls and boys all over the world Have anyone of you thought what would happen if he was sick? It would be a catastrophe. If he was sick, you certainly would be the one to get involved with helping Santa. Wouldnt you? Sure you would. Y ou would get started right away to buy presents for those you know who have been good, and certainly you would have coal for those who are bad. You would have to buy presents soon because Santa just got pneumonia and carpal tunnel yesterday from controlling the reigns reindeer. of his eight Just think, you would have to go to the mall and face all the psychotic crazed shoppers wanting the same thing Santa sent you to get You would need to endure the pushing and shoving from everyone around you. It will be just like a marathon, only the prize would be the right gift. Dont think about anything else. You not-so-ti- ny The ZCMI Santa said he had only been on the job for two weeks, and seemed to like it for the most part He said that even though a lot of people are only interested in making money at Christmas, I really like talking to the kids. Its worth it All three Santas agreed that the hottest selling toys this year are Ninja Turtles, Nintendos and stereos. Christmas Wonderland and spend a fortune on decorations. People are now purchasing these items as gifts all She said another purpose is being able to have theircustomerscome in for thatwarm cozy feeling you get at Christmas time, all year long. The Christmas Cottage maintains this type of atmosphere. The customers arid our family love it. Linge said it is also becoming very popular to give Christmas gifts as wedding gifts. Many newlyweds have to go out Have You Ever Thought: What by Nancy Bennett Forum staff writer hot! If would spend the rest of the week being obsessed by the thoughts of spend, spend, spend; however, the only money you have is plastic with a gazzilion dollar interest charge. The only way you would pay it off is if they found the lost Fountain of Youth. If this doesnt convince you to help Santa out with Christmas, think about poor Santa, lying in bed as red with a fever as Rudolphs nose. Dont plan on the elves helping Santa out. They would be so sick with the flu, and all the reindeer and Mrs. Claus too would be lying down with the gumboo. No one would be left to bring Christmas in except for you and your Christmas spirit which has lain dormant all year. But when its December, there is something much more exciting thanFinals Week. Its subbing for Santa when he isnt so jolly an elf. You could help Santa out by buying like crazy, but its much more fun and even more enjoyable to give of the heart Its not the presents that cause one to give, but its the peace that fills our spirit as we give to others. Why do you think Santa and his posse are so jolly? They give every year just to make little girls and boys happy and filled year long. The Christmas Cottage also sells other seasonal items. Novelty items for other holidays such as Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving are incorporated into the This helps sales decor and inventory. during the slow months, said Linge. Santa Got Sick? . with joy on Christmas Day. No one ever remembers the presents you receive from the store, but they will always remember the gifts you make and the ones that are truly from the heart After all, if Santa represents the true spirit of Christmas, then we all can also give of the heart to show we care about our fellow man even when it is finals week. Oh, by the way, whenever Santa gets sick again, he will personally rely on you to carry out the Christmas spirit because you have been a really good boy or girl this year. 6th Annual World Peace Celebration At Kingsbury Gather the morning of the last day of the year to celebrate world peace. The 6th Annual World Peace Celebration will be held again at Kingsbury Hall on December 31, 1991 at 4:30 a-This years speakers are Mary Simper and Diane Nofs, with music by Alan Bachman and Kathryn Warner. Everyone is encouraged to bring rattles and drums. |