Sandra was at the very first Santa "Con".
"There were about 80 of us, we met at Katz's Deli. It was 1999 I think. We all dressed up in Santa suits, it was originally an alternative, a "con" or parody on Christmas."
It was a secret, clandestine, affair with only one goal... to have fun. An irreverent group of costumers and downtown artists channeling a creative camaraderie, roamed the lower east side of New York City in the days before cell phones and Twitter.
"There was a girl named Ducky, she had a clipboard, she would shout, "Santa's on the move" and the next destination was announced. "We were welcomed everywhere. We had a song book with naughty lyrics to Christmas songs. We would go to every bar on St Mark's, they would all come out on the street and invite us in. The owners couldn't wait to have us back, it was their best take of the year."
"The first year, we went to Billy's Strip club and all the Santa's stripped for money and we gave all of it to the girls who worked there."
With the gentrification and advent of cell phones, things began to change, but when Time Out discovered us... next thing you know there were 10,000 Santa's. The name and the meaning changed. When I told Sandra, Santacon is now known as a Santa Convention, she was mortified.
This year there is a flurry of Santa Haters, trying to shut the whole thing down. Good luck. Banning liquor or asking bartenders not to serve bad Santa's is like trying to empty the ocean, one bucket at a time. Even Police Commissioner Ray Kelley says, "It's what makes New York, New York". I was interviewed on ABC News, defending my experience of Santacon, which is, hands down, my favorite day of the year.
Saturday will be my fifth year... but you never forget your first Santacon! Although I'm a sober Santa, I fear the prohibitionists are protesting in vain. It's like trying to ban booze at St Patrick's Day.
Once you get past the initial embarrassment of walking out of your apartment in a Santa Claus suit for the first time, and you get a "Hi Santa!" from a similarly clad New Yorker, the day gets progressively more magical.
There are only four things needed to participate in the annual, global, spontaneous Santarchy!
1. A Santa Claus suit (elves, rain deer, Chanukah bushes, Christmas trees. Sketchy Santas and gingerbread cookies welcome).
2. Download the Santa Carols Songbook with randy lyrics from the website.
3. Program the Hashtags #Santacon #NYCSantacon on your phone.
4. Leave all embarrassment and self respect at home.
You've probably seen hoards of us on subway platforms, a thousand singing "We Are The Champions" in Grand Central Station, Washington Square and 10,000 in Central Park and Times Square. If you can suspend your judgements, it's a pretty thrilling experience.
It's all very hush, hush and secret meeting locations. Renegade off shoots making up their own routes or... just go out into the city and join anyone else in a Santa suit and see where it takes you! This is not a day for those of us with OCD.
Of the many benefits of donning the red suit, you'll laugh for eight hours straight, it's a great calorie burner, giggling and schlepping all over town and... with the release of all those endorphins, it's impossible to be depressed while wearing a red suit.
I will be there with my SantaCam if you can't make it, but you might want to consider it for your bucket list.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.