The Obamas haven't politicized Santa's weight, but some professional Santas are worried about the issue...The Obama administration has been conducting an anti-obesity campaign that includes almost every agency in the government, from USDA through the Department of Education. The campaign hasn't expanded to include fantasy figures like Santa Claus, however, but in today's Washington Post, there's a story about professional Santas taking on the issue of their own accord. The article is both serious and at times hilarious, noting that discussions of Santa's size is "the third rail in the world of Santa."
From Wa Po:
This battle of the bulge has been raging quietly within the Santa community, which is made up of an estimated 4,000 professional Santas who congregate at annual conventions, chat year-round on Claus-centric online message boards, spend thousands on customized outfits and perform everywhere from shopping malls and military bases to homes and hospices.
One professional Santa interviewed for the Wa Po story, Ernest Berger, estimates that about 1/3 of professional Santas are clinically obese, and another 1/3 are overweight, which mirrors the national average for adult males. Berger includes himself in the overweight category, and says that he'd like to see all Santas trim down in the interest of national health. He also notes that lately, there have been slimmer Santas, but that this is not a trend. (Above: President Obama with a relatively slim Santa at the National Christmas Tree lighting on Dec. 3)
President Obama and Fi
rst Lady Michelle Obama have been careful to not focus the ongoing Obama administration anti-obesity campaign--or Mrs. Obama's own health and nutrition campaign--on the time-honored tradition of Santa. The President and Mrs. Obama have been queried about Santa Claus a lot lately during holiday interviews, and have even gone so far as to defend his right to be fat. When asked by Oprah Winfrey about Santa's visit to the White House, the convo included what Santa would be offered when he comes down the chimney, and the President and Mrs. Obama assured Winfrey that it would be cookies and milk. When Winfrey pressed, asking about the possibility of offering Santa apple slices or produce from the White House Kitchen Garden, she got a firm negative:Mrs. Obama: Santa generally likes cookies and milk.
President Obama: Yeah, I mean, Santa -- Santa eats what he wants.
Still, there are no images of Santa among this year's White House holiday decorations, which Ob Fo noted during the holiday preview for media. This year's theme is Reflect, Rejoice, Renew, and there are no Santa figurines in the public areas of the White House, no vignettes of Christmastown, no Mrs. Claus. Cookies at the Obamas White House holiday parties and receptions have been shaped like Bo the First Dog and trees and nuts, rather than Santa or his elves. And there have been no professional Santas greeting guests who show up for holiday parties. In previous administrations, Santa was all over White House holiday decorations, as were Mrs. Claus and elves. Last year, a very patriotic Santa was featured; the theme was A Red White and Blue Christmas (the image, above, adorned the Bush White House website for the holidays, and was on programs handed out at receptions). And Santa and his sleigh were also frequently depicted on top of the White House Gingerbread Houses created by former Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, who served for 25 years as the pastry chef. This year's White House Gingerbread House features a marzipan replica of the White House Kitchen Garden. (Detail, below, from the 2004 White House Gingerbread House; Santa is in left of photo. The theme was "A Season of Merriment and Melody").
The subject of the creche in the East Room has been making headlines lately, but Santa's absence has not really been noted....
