The month of July usually kicks off the flow of news about Christmas in the media thanks to the jolly gathering of professional Santas around the world. In years past we have seen them meet in Branson, Missouri talking about plans to make a reality television series on the life of a working Santa Claus. The media is quick to picture groups of Santas cheerfully meeting together to play baseball, take classes on how to correctly portray Santa Claus or to dance with Mrs. Claus. This news charms the world as it kicks off the run up to each Christmas season.

But hearts are not merry these days in the world of Santa Claus. The Wall Street Journal is blowing the lid off the story of bad Santas who just can’t get along. And Santa Claus — and Christmas — is getting a black eye in the process.

These men — paid professionals who portary Santa Claus to millions of kids from big parades in Hollywood to a mall near you — are fighting like raging school girls. Charges of embezzlement, violence, and ethics violations have bubbled up from the society of Santas worldwide and are now presented in the anti-Christmas media just in time to kick off the 2008 holiday season.

It might not be the publicity these Santas were seeking as they begin booking their 2008 season. But it is the publicity they are getting and richly deserve after years of promoting a saint for the purposes of lining their own grubby pockets.

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