Jezebel: Santa Claus

Absolutely Charming 100-Year-Old Letter To Santa Found In Chimney

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:15:00 EST

While installing central heating in his Dublin, Ireland home, John Byrne found a letter to Santa Claus written in 1911 by two children, 10-year-old Hannah Howard and her 7-year-old brother Fred. The children placed the letter on a shelf inside their fireplace, and miraculously it remained there for decades and was only slightly burned. In the letter Hannah writes, "I want a baby doll and a waterproof with a hood and a pair of gloves and a toffee apple and a gold penny and a silver sixpence and a long toffee." Sadly, if people of the future find our letters they won't be half as lovely, since we usually asked for stuff like Skip-It and Totally Hair Barbie. More »

Teacher Totally Ruins Christmas For Deluded 7-Year-Olds

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST

Last week during a geography lesson at George W. Miller Elementary School in Nanuet, NY, children in Leatrice Ann Eng's class told her that they know about the North Pole because that's where Santa Claus lives. Deciding that it was high time the second-graders faced reality, Eng informed them that Santa isn't real and their Christmas presents are purchased by their parents. (Special message to junior Jezebel readers: This lady was sorely mistaken. And in case you were wondering, Santa has a toy factory in China and he and your mom just have remarkably similar handwriting.) Eng is now calling each child's parents to apologize for making this an exceptionally uncomfortable holiday and planting seeds of doubt about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. More »

The First Man To Make Me Cry

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:45:23 EST

Fear of Santa: embarrassing for children, hilarious for onlookers. Both of these feelings are intensified if the child is you and the onlookers are your family, and Santa is your grandpa. More »

Santa Spotted On A Starry Night

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:10:00 EST

[India, December 20: An Indian girl checks out Christmas souvenirs at a shop, set up in a Muslim neighborhood of Bangalore. Christians in India make up just over 2 percent of its 1 billion population. Image via AP.]

Michelle Realizes Guy In The Red Suit Looks Oddly Familiar

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:56:00 EST

[Washington, December 13: First Lady Michelle Obama reads "The Night Before Christmas" to patients at the Children's National Medical Center. Image via AP.]

See the Sea of Santa C's

Lauri Apple — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST

[London, England, December 11: People dressed as Santa Claus celebrate the "Santacon" festive flash mob at Trafalgar Square. Image via AP.]

The Best Of The Absolute Worst Christmas Decorations

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:56:00 EST

Tomorrow is the first day of December, and we're already being inundated with Christmas crap! Here's a handy buyers guide. More »

39 Crazy Christmas Ornaments To Make You Dread The Season

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EDT

Summer's basically over, which means Christmas is right around the corner. That is, according to the folks at Bronner's: This catalog arrived in the mail right before the Labor Day weekend. More »

Jersey Shore Stars Aim High; Vera Wang Designing Chelsea's Wedding Gown

Jenna Sauers — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EDT

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JWOWW wants Snooki to collaborate on a sunglasses collection. "I'm a good designer, but she's great with ideas. She tells me…and I can put them on paper," said JWOWW. Also, JWOWW would like Lady Gaga to wear her swimsuits. [People]

The Years Of Magical Thinking: The Pscychology Of Believing In Santa

Anna North — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

New research shows that belief in Santa can actually rise with age, and that three-year-olds believe in St. Nick just slightly less than they believe in the garbage man. But does kids' "magical thinking" have a larger purpose? More »

You Better Watch Out: Santa Claus Might Already Be In Your Town

Hortense Smith — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

When I was kid, my parents would always tell me in the days leading up to Christmas that Santa Claus was already circling the globe. Now that I'm an adult with internet access, I can confirm that this is true. More »

Visiting Hours

Anna Holmes — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:10:00 EST

[San Salvador, December 17. Image via Getty]

Heavenly Creatures

Anna Holmes — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST

[Medellín, December 2. Image via Getty]

Santa's Been Naughty

Maria — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:45:00 EST

Police in England are investigating a "mass Santa brawl" that took place on Saturday between a group of men dressed as Santa and another group of men "of dark-skinned African or Asian appearance." [Independent] More »

Hayden Meets Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Hortense Smith — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST

San Gabriel, CA. December 13. Image via Filmmagic.

New Book Documents Kids Scared Of Santa • Women Prefer Internet To Sex

Maria — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST

• A new book called Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland documents 250 screaming children perched on the lap of mall Santas across the country. • More »

Angry Goose Threatens To Destroy Santa Claus

Hortense Smith — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:45:00 EST

For Thanksgiving, Some Heavy News For Reflection And Fluff For Dessert

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

Armed gunman in India today attacked 7 different sites in Mumbai in a reported attempt to kill as many Americans and Brits as possible, not that they spared any Indians while they were killing. At least 78 people lost their lives. [Huffington Post]
In addition, the FBI has information that al Qaeda may have discussed attacking subways and trains in and around New York City this holiday weekend. People in New York should expect an increased security presence. [Huffington Post]
On the eve of a holiday dedicated to stuffing one's face with rich food, it is important to note that the number of Americans on food stamps is expected to reach an all time high this month. It's something to chew on with your turkey, and then give thanks that you're either not one of those Americans, or, if you are, that the anti-government Republicans didn't manage to dismantle at least that part of our important but much-maligned "welfare" state. [Washington Post]

HAPPY CAPSLOCK DAY • Granny Pickpocket "Terrorist" Arrested 73 Times

Maria — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EDT

• HEY, DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY? AND THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SANTA AND RON PAUL? Ok, no more shouting. • A 50-year-old woman in China known as "The Paper Woman" suffers from a rare skin disorder which allows words to appear on her skin when she gently writes on herself with a fingernail. • A lawsuit filed 8 years ago by a former employee against Ringling Bros. Circus claiming that the circus mistreats its endangered elephants is going to trial next week in Washington. • More »

McCain Campaign, CBS Journalists Are Unashamed Of Their Own Entitlement, Election Tactics

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT

When the chips are down and all the prayers to God to win the election and protect you from witchcraft haven't worked, everyone knows it's time to call in the big guns: the forces of evil. And, if they're too busy helping the Axis of Evil get nukes and shit, well, then you can always call in the forces of pettiness and covert racism, as they've been helpful in many an election here in the States. But Swampland's Ana Marie Cox and I will insist on, at a minimum, throwing rhetorical spitballs at the hordes and making assfucking jokes as the sky is falling, so there's that, at least... after the jump. More »