Question of the Day - Sunday, December 8, 2024

[fionasmom]

The other day at the mall, I noticed a Santa busy at work texting his elves. This brought back memories of my own childhood relationship to Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. I was the kid who ran screaming from him out of the toy department while other children seemed to wait in line expectantly to make their requests. I never did warm up to him, but in my 20's I worked for a department store that had a festive Breakfast with Santa and was tasked with introducing him to all the little boys and girls. He seemed harmless enough, so I took a picture with him which I still have someplace.

It seems to me, although I have not made an exhaustive search, that a lot of the Christmas figures who deliver presents are old men, older elves, and at least one old woman, La Befana in southern Italy. Not the most child friendly characters in the long run.

Did you enjoy visiting Santa when you were a kid? Did you have special requests which were granted or not, probably depending on what your parents thought of your requests?

My first memory of wanting something was a horse. My parents got me a dog, either hoping that I would not notice the difference or hoping that would appease me and it started my lifelong interest in and love for animals.

 

[cheshirecat]

Honestly I can't remember ever sitting on Santa's lap as a kid. I think my Mother was never a fan when she was a kid and didn't think of it for us. Or possibly my 3 older brothers were not so nice to him.

I did take my Niece to see him when she was about 5. As we stood in line she was excited to see him but when it came time to sit on his lap she decided it was too scary.

 

[denice]

As far back as I can remember, I looked forward to seeing Santa and telling him what I wanted for Christmas. I remember seeing a picture when I was a baby and I wasn't happy. They got the picture right before I started crying.

 

[catloverfromwayback]

I never visited Santa as a kid. I don't know if it was much of a thing here in the '60s.

 

[Gunther4ever]

I have no recall of sitting on Santa's lap but there is a picture of me doing so, I was 3 at the time. I was all smiles so he must not have terrified me. I can remember writing a letter to Santa and asking for a Chatty Kathy doll, my sister Kathy got that doll and I got a Tressie. Truth be known, Tressie was way more fun than Chatty Kathy...

 

[NY cat man]

There was a local department store that was famous for its Christmas window displays, and they also had a Santa. I remember going there with my parents when I was very young- maybe 1952 or -3- and seeing him on his throne, but never got to actually talk to him, and that was the only time I went to that store.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

When I was little Santa called me on the phone every year!! I was pretty shy but eventually Santa was ok and I liked visiting him. Maybe the phone calls helped.

(Santa was my Grandpa of course. 🥹 I miss him.)

I don’t remember having a specific big wish filled. But one year I came home from my weekend with my dad to find a present that he had missed on Christmas some years earlier. It was a washer and dryer set for my Barbie just like one some daughters of my moms friend had that I thought was just too cool. You could press a button several times and it made the dryer spin.

 

[neely]

I remember going to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at one of the downtown department stores that was well known for their fabulous story displays. The line was so long my sister and I told our parents we wanted to leave and go to the toy department instead which we did.

 

[SueLinda]

All I know is that my Mom told me I slapped Santa when I was 4. I sure hope it wasn't hard...

 

[iPappy]

I remember being very afraid but sitting on his lap anyway. I remembered thinking it was the biggest act of bravery ever recorded in human history. I don't remember what I asked for back then, but I do remember there was a few Santa's over the years that seemed so legitimate I really thought it was the Real Santa. I would imagine anyone who took on the task of playing Santa like that would have to have incredibly patience.
When my niece was about 2, we took her to see Santa at the mall. She was so excited, but, once she was on his lap it was like someone flipped a switch. She started crying to get away. They quickly snapped a photo. Somewhere, I have a 5x7 photo of Santa trying to gently hang onto her so she didn't fall and my little niece red-faced screaming and reaching for anything she could get. The second it was over, she was happy again. Kids.

 

[cassiopea]

I remember a little bit - I only went to about the ages of 6-7 since that was the time I stopped believing in Santa, but it was all nice memories!

I can't really remember all of my wishes I am assuming it had to do with horses, baby animals and various toys.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

I didn't love having my picture taken with santa or any other costumed person but my mom loved those pictures.That tradition continued with our kids and my mom loved and wanted those pictures as well. My daughter would cry and refuse. Mom would say we will get ice cream after you get your picture taken with santa ( or the easter bunny) My daughter would look at her and say ' chocolate '.?So then she would sit for the photo.Mom would look at me and say they better not run out of chocolate ice cream! My daughter still does not like most of those humans in costumes though Halloween seems to be the exception.
We were never allowed to ask for more then three things for Christmas and they were not supposed to be be big ticket items.I remember kids sitting on Santa's lap rattling off a list longer then your arm of things they wanted. Santa was trying to move them off to take the next kid in line.

 

[game misconduct]

i dont remember but probably not i never could sit still long enough for pictures

 

[vansX2]

When I was of the age to believe ih n Santa Claus their were no Santa's around to visit at stores.

 

[misty8723]

I hve a picture of me as a very young child on Santa's lap. I remember nothing about it or any other Santa I might have visited.

 

[Lari]

I did! I liked visiting Santa when I remember. There may have been pictures of me crying as a toddler. I remember asking Santa at like this Santa amusement park in like Vermont or New Hampshire for the VHS of Mary Poppins. I'd never seen it at the time, but I was convinced I needed it. My brother asked for Robin Hood. And we both got them that year.

Thus far, both of my kids have been fine with Santa so far. J's almost 4, so if she was going to dislike him, I think it would have happened by now. M isn't a baby this year, so we'll see how it goes. We wouldn't force it if one wasn't into it, and I'd never post a crying with Santa photo on social media.

 

[Winchester]

I have no pictures of my siblings and I with Santa.
However, I have pictures of Banshee with Santa Paws!