Too Soon for Santa?

You better watch out: Santa Claus is already in town.

The Halloween decorations were barely taken down before Ol’ St. Nick greeted shoppers at the Oxford Valley Mall.

Forget about the day after Thanksgiving, the 2009 Christmas shopping season unofficially started this year on the first Saturday of November with a Santa welcoming parade in Langhorne, Pa.

That’s right. The ever-sooner arrival of the holiday shopping season already came to the area as Kris Kringle took time out of his busy toy-making schedule to meet with some of the little boys and girls to whom he will be bringing Christmas joy to on Dec. 25.

"Even though it seems early there is a demand," said mall spokesman Patty Gillett.

Demand for what? Photos. Parents want to get their children in a photo with Santa ASAP so that they can get holiday photos ready to share with friends and family, said Gillett.

Bringing out Santa a few weeks before Black Friday could help bring a few more children and their purchasing parents into the mall to meet Santa and spend some dough.

Trying to kick-start the holiday shopping season made sense. Times are tough and this holiday season it could be even tougher on retailers after October sales came in below expectations, according to Reuters.

Oxford Valley wasn’t alone as Santa also arrived this past weekend at the Deptford and Montgomery Malls.

But, many other Meccas to consumerism like the Cherry Hill Mall, King of Prussia Mall, Plymouth Meeting Mall, Cherry Hill Mall and Neshaminy Mall won’t welcome Santa to town until this weekend. And, he won’t show up at the Gallery Mall until Nov. 24.

It’s great that Santa was bringing joy to children. But, with 48 shopping days left until Christmas, was it too soon for Santa to be coming to town?
 

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