Mall Santas Are One Of The US's Weirdest Traditions

The Christmas lights at Broad Street Mall, Reading, are switched on, Nov. 22, 1990.

A Mall of America Santa gets his hair done every morning at Regis hair salon in the mall.

Left: A person who portrays Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, has his beard trimmed by stylist Christine Henning at a hair salon at the mall, Dec. 23, 2003. Right, Santa (Roy Piazza) waved to the children in line from his big fluffy chair at "The Shops At Mission Viejo".

Mall Santa Dana Craven gets his eyebrows and beard retouched by stylist Joyce Beisel in Roswell, Georgia, Dec. 6, 2007.

Santa Claus' Sleigh Driver License is seen Dec. 19, 2003, at Golf Mill Mall in Niles, Illinois.

Young visitors are greeted by John Slocum, 30, playing the role of Santa Claus, Dec. 7, 2000, at the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso, Texas.

A group of children have their photograph taken with John Slocum, 30, who is playing Santa Claus Dec. 7, 2000 at the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso, TX.

Moses Elango and his wife Eunice, both of Cameroon, pose with Santa for a photo with their children Marlee, age 2, and Isabella, 11 months, at the Ice Palace inside Cherry Creek Mall, in Denver, Nov. 29, 2013.

Tom "Santa" McAndrews is one of the Santas at the Cherry Creek Mall in Colorado. Before the holiday season begins, he visits toy stores to learn about the toys that children might be asking for. He was doing his "research" at the Discovery store at the Cherry Creek Mall and tried on bug glasses that allow you to see as a bug can.

The Santa Claus outfit belonging to John Slocum hangs on the wall on Dec. 7, 2000, at the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso, Texas.

Dogs Shania (left) and Tyler sit next to Dick Johnson who is dressed as Santa Claus as they pose for a picture on Dec. 10, 2001, at the Fashion Mall in Plantation, Florida.

Santa Paws poses with Howie, a 7-year-old dwarf/mix rabbit brought in by its owner, Kendra Jurkovic, at the Pet Value at Grant Park Mall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Nov. 28, 2004.

Santa Claus grimaces as 8-month-old Molly Powell starts to cry after having her picture taken at Park Meadows Mall in Denver, Colorado.

John Slocum, 30, playing the role of Santa Claus, takes his lunch break, Dec. 7, 2000, at the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso, Texas.

Left: A mall Santa takes a break on the job on Dec. 6, 1988. Right: A baby sits on Santa's lap at Chadstone Shopping Centre in Australia, Dec. 15, 2004.

Santa escorts the children of Palmyra to his big red chair in the Fairgrounds Square Mall on Dec. 9, 2006.

Sydney's Santa Brian waves goodbye to Aidan Coughlan from Kogarah Bay at Hurstville Westfield shopping center, Dec. 9, 2004.

Santa, portrayed by Harold C. Glenn, looks over a brochure of gift options with Dominique Burrell during her visit to Fairfield Commons Mall, Nov. 30, 2000, in Richmond, Virginia.

Brandon Cramer, 4, sits with Santa Claus, portrayed by Bob Penn, at the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004.

Santa Claus rides into the Tysons Corner Center mall on a train on Nov. 22, 2008.

A mother comforts her son and daughter as they cry at the sight of Santa Claus at the Westchester Mall.

Santa Claus seems to be catching his wind as shoppers line up to wait for their children to be photographed with the man in the red suit in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Santa Claus quenches his thirst as Ryan Gronostajski, 6, looks on, Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.

Santa rides down an escalator Friday, Nov 23, 2001, at a mall in Omaha, Nebraska, on what is considered the first day of the Christmas shopping season.