Once again, it’s time to disillusion my daughter, whilst also psyching her up faster than a bipolar patient on Effexor. Except this year we have preschool to contend with. A preschool that stated in their monthly newsletter that it “goes very easy on the Christmas discussions”, but who asked that we let them know of any particular issues we might have with holiday beliefs.
I get to be that mom, for the fourth time since it’s started. First, it was about her food allergies – she can’t play with the Play-Doh unless supervised, with her hands washed immediately afterwards (because there’s wheat in it and it drives her as mental as a slice of Wonderbread) and she has to have her own, special cookies for when there’s a birthday. Then came the note about her father not being allowed to pick her up from school – not that he even knows where it is, has tried pick her up, or has even attempted to ask me anything about it. Next, our lack of vaccinations, especially while the entire class got deswined.
Now, I get to walk in there in eleven hours and attempt to explain discreetly that we don’t believe in Santa. Without ruining the other 11 kids’ childhoods, too.
Zoë and I had the talk about two weeks ago, about how Santa was a story. Like Dora. And how he doesn’t bring her presents. Like Dora. And how Dora and Santa don’t really hang out, giving presents to good little boys and girls, while singing Feliz Navidad, strumming guitars, in the company of a purple monkey who is excellent at the panflute. She was concerned for about 13 seconds, until the magical question occurred to her: But, who will give me presents? When I gave her a list of present-giver-to-hers, she was cool.
Of course, we also discussed the holidays being about a feeling and giving and spending time with the people you love, who support you and show that they care all year round and other wonderful bullshit. And then she refocussed on the presents. She’s three. I don’t expect full-on philanthropy, even if she did give me a list of everything that we should buy her friends and three boyfriends.
But still, to kick off the gift guides that are coming to a feed reader near you, I give you a little something local to Vancouver that came across my inbox1 (and didn’t even bring a towel to mop up the mess. {too far?}):
The real Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus and 38 of his top elves, will spend six weeks at Richmond Centre starting November 13, announced North Pole spokesperson and Senior Elf, VP Communications Reginald Rufus.
According to Rufus, Santa will arrived at the mall on Friday, November 13 at 7 p.m. in a GM zero-emission, Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox and will then lead Mrs. Claus, his merry band of elves and anyone who wants to believe in the magic of Christmas on a parade through Richmond Centre. He will commutes back and forth to the North Pole, as necessary, as he prepares for one of the most exciting nights of the year for the jolly old man (Christmas, in case you forgot!).
“Santa chose Richmond Centre as his home base to visit with children this year because of the multicultural demographics in the city and how the people of Richmond would help him spread the spirit of Christmas around the world,” said Rufus via satellite from the North Pole. He added: “Santa is looking forward to seeing the children of Richmond this year and he knows that there are many people in Richmond that might be grown up, but are still children at heart.”
“We are thrilled that Santa chose Richmond again this year,” said Leslie Matheson, Director of Marketing, Richmond Centre. “Christmas is a magical time of year and having Father Christmas at Richmond Centre has everyone here very excited. The world is a very big place and that Santa has chosen to spend the six weeks just before Christmas here, is quite an honour for us.”
Throughout Santa’s visit, there will be many activities at Richmond Centre. They include:
- Visits and Photos with Santa
- Daily Elf Inspections
- School of Christmas – classroom and theatre sessions
- Santa Live! (Streaming live video of the child’s visit with Santa.)
Santa, Mrs. Claus and all 38 elves have their own trading card that they will hand out to courteous little boys and girls (and grown-ups), when asked politely. Santa’s card is a magical trading card that creates a 3D image of old Saint Nick, when it is held up to a web cam. Santa 3.0, is what he’s calling it.
Said Matheson: “Santa at Richmond Centre is an interactive experience. There is something to do for everyone – young and old alike. The spirit of the season, goodwill towards others, and kindness and joy will come to life here at Richmond Centre when Santa arrives. We’re hoping that not only will everyone who comes to see Santa embrace that, but that they will carry a little piece of it with them all year ‘round.”
For more information on Santa at Richmond Centre, please visit www.santaatrichmondcentre.com. (The website will be live on Friday, November 13, 2009.)
Richmond Centre is one of the Lower Mainland’s largest shopping complexes with 240 stores and services. Located in the centre of Richmond, on the corner of Westminster Hwy and Minoru Boulevard, Richmond Centre is owned and managed by two of the largest developers in Canada, Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd. and Ivanhoe Cambridge II Inc.
- a few weeks ago, meaning I’ve quoted the press release, but changed some wording, bolded, to indicate correct tenses. This is what procrastination gets you. ↩
