Mall Santa Claus Al Harrison claims that he was fired from his job at the Bonita Lakes Mall in Mississippi for telling the true story of Christmas. The 82-year-old employee told television station WTOK that whenever he talked to the children about what presents they wanted, he gave them a gift of the truth.
According to Harrison, during his five-year tenure as Santa Claus, he always gave children a candy cane and asked their parents if they knew what the candy’s significance was. He then went on to explain that candy canes were symbolic of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This did not go over well with one of the parents recently, who told the jolly old Saint Nick that “I didn't come for nothing but a picture.” Soon after the incident, Bonita Lakes Mall fired Harrison.
Although Harrison admits that the mall told him over the years that they were concerned about liability that could result from his candy cane talk, the former Santa Claus says that he was still surprised by the firing and is particularly concerned that the mall is “cutting Christ out of Christmas.”
Related Reading:
5 Workplace lessons from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
Quotes from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
5 interpersonal relationship lessons from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
Santa, baby! Quotes about St. Nick for Christmas
Online holiday shopping in the workplace affects productivity and security
Subscribe via RSS or e-mail.
Comments