What about Santa and how fat he is? Google wants to look up "how far is Santa Monica" and "how far is Santa". That's because this is something we don't think about - but lots of people have written about this.
From the time "A Visit From St. Nicholas" was written in 1823, Santa has been described as chubby and plump, with a round little belly that shook when he laughed "like a bowl full of jelly." Coca-Cola took this to extremes and made Santa just plain fat. Supposedly this is "part of the charm".
And besides Coca-Cola, who else to blame? Trust Hollywood. One article reported that it used to have a set of numbers – waist circumference, face shape, beard length – that Santas were supposed to adhere to. Coca-Cola’s Santa, whom many in America try to emulate, is very round: round face, round nose, round stomach. Around the world, the legendary giver comes in all shapes and sizes. The Santa imitated in Europe is a thinner man with more squared-off features.
Roy Pickler is a professional Santa who dropped 88 pounds. He's covered in CNN health HERE. He was in the television contest "The Biggest Loser". He is quoted as saying: “The world is going to have to change their acceptance of what Santa looks like,” Pickler said. “Santa is a role model, and kids don’t want to have a role model that’s fat.”
There is an update for our North American Santa. He has lost 25 pounds over the last 20 years. Compared to Roy Pickler, Santa has 50 pounds to go. I wouldn't call Roy skinny from the pictures, either. It is entertaining to search for fat Santa - the photo stock companies have lots of versions - "full length body size profile side view of handsome fat overweight cheerful Santa".
And maybe we can't be too choosy in 2021 - there is a shortage of Santas due to COVID. In one article it says that of the 8,000 Santas in the company's database, 355 have died in 2021 with COVID being the cause for the vast majority. Really! That's what the article says HERE.
Here's the latest in the Up Against the Wall Series. The background is the Bathurst Street Chess board in the park complete with graffiti. The colours are wonderful and look regal - like an archeological dig where core samples of urban life are revealed.
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