The story of unhappiness with Santa Claus (see the recent item here about Professor Trinkaus’s shopping mall Santa research) has a second, perhaps more sinister part. Apparently, even Mall Santas don’t like Mall Santas. An Agence France Press report tells the tale, or at least part of it:
Santa Wars as deposed British world champ fumes
Sun Dec 18,10:22 AM ET
The British Father Christmas who lost his Santa of the Year world crown has lashed out, citing a suspected campaign to stop him from winning again that has damaged "Santa morale".
Ron Horniblew, 70, has been authorised by the Master Santa in Greenland and is part of the elite international Santa circuit who compete at the Santa Winter Games, where up to 50 Father Christmases compete for the world title.
Estonian accordionist Aare Rebban grabbed the crown "amid dark mutterings of political voting, professional jealousy and backbiting"…