I listened to a long story on NPR yesterday afternoon about A.O.R.B.S.—the "Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas." This is/was an organization of men who play the role of Santa Claus every year at Christmas (at malls, parties, etc.). AORBS had one strict prerequisite: Every member-Santa had to have a real, flowing white beard. No fake fuzz for this group.
I looked online for the story transcript to clarify details, but couldn't find it, so I will summarize what I remember from this long piece. (The AORBS web site is here with a front page disclaimer hinting at the details I'm about to relate.) AORBS began innocently in 1994 in California with a few real-bearded Santas who began meeting together for meals, sharing tips, and enjoying their unique place in the culture. Word of their meetings spread, others joined, an official organization was created, chapters were started in other cities, and soon newsletters, a web site, local meetings and a national convention followed. But it was a short-lived lovefest for the rotund ones.
It wasn't long before charges of power grabbing, financial impropriety, and mismanagement surfaced. Charges and counter-charges were made public, physical confrontations were witnessed at meetings, organization officers were booted, the organization split into competing groups -- and, well, you get the picture. The Santas had succeeded in tarnishing the last vestige of the secularization of Christmas -- a kind, bearded, generous, and jolly being called Santa.
The NPR story concluded by suggesting that the conflict within AORBS is ongoing -- but by the time the story ended I had lost interest. The story line was all too typical and wholly unsurprising. And it pretty much represents why I began losing interest in "Christmas in America" years ago.
Christmas should be about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, God's gift to humankind. I certainly respect every person's right to celebrate whatever holidays he or she choses, including the Americanized Christmas. But when the Santas can't even live together with "peace on earth and good will toward each other" . . . .
I look forward someday to experiencing something that I'm not sure I ever have (or at least in many, many years) -- a Christmas season creatively focused solely on the birth of Jesus. I wish the fueding Santas well, but am not holding my breath.
I looked online for the story transcript to clarify details, but couldn't find it, so I will summarize what I remember from this long piece. (The AORBS web site is here with a front page disclaimer hinting at the details I'm about to relate.) AORBS began innocently in 1994 in California with a few real-bearded Santas who began meeting together for meals, sharing tips, and enjoying their unique place in the culture. Word of their meetings spread, others joined, an official organization was created, chapters were started in other cities, and soon newsletters, a web site, local meetings and a national convention followed. But it was a short-lived lovefest for the rotund ones.
It wasn't long before charges of power grabbing, financial impropriety, and mismanagement surfaced. Charges and counter-charges were made public, physical confrontations were witnessed at meetings, organization officers were booted, the organization split into competing groups -- and, well, you get the picture. The Santas had succeeded in tarnishing the last vestige of the secularization of Christmas -- a kind, bearded, generous, and jolly being called Santa.
The NPR story concluded by suggesting that the conflict within AORBS is ongoing -- but by the time the story ended I had lost interest. The story line was all too typical and wholly unsurprising. And it pretty much represents why I began losing interest in "Christmas in America" years ago.
Christmas should be about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, God's gift to humankind. I certainly respect every person's right to celebrate whatever holidays he or she choses, including the Americanized Christmas. But when the Santas can't even live together with "peace on earth and good will toward each other" . . . .
I look forward someday to experiencing something that I'm not sure I ever have (or at least in many, many years) -- a Christmas season creatively focused solely on the birth of Jesus. I wish the fueding Santas well, but am not holding my breath.
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If only I could have been a fly on the wall at one of those meetings! To see a group of Santas fighting and arguing over money, power, etc. would be absolutely hilarious and all the more reason this world is the way it is. If the Santas can't get along, what hope is there for the rest of us? Haha! Love it.
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