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Black Santa Claus Is A Hit At Mall Of America, But Faces An Online Backlash

Larry Jefferson was the first black Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. Courtesy of The Santa Experience hide caption

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Courtesy of The Santa Experience

National

Black Santa Claus Is A Hit At Mall Of America, But Faces An Online Backlash

Larry Jefferson was the first black Santa Claus at the Mall of America in Minnesota. He was popular with the kids, but he sparked on online backlash from people who felt Santa can only be white.

Black Santa Claus Is A Hit At Mall Of America, But Faces An Online Backlash

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Twain's 'Letter From Santa Claus,' A Gift For All Ages

A trade card from the 1880s depicts a Santa Claus figure in a bird-themed sleigh pulled by reindeer as they are about the land on a rooftop to deliver presents from the huge sack of gifts. Getty Images hide caption

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Opinion

Simon Says

Twain's 'Letter From Santa Claus,' A Gift For All Ages

In 1875, Mark Twain wrote a letter to his 3-year-old daughter from Santa Claus. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on a father's love for his daughter at Christmas time.

Twain's 'Letter From Santa Claus,' A Gift For All Ages

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NORAD's Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport

Col. Harry Shoup came to be known as the "Santa Colonel." He died in 2009. Courtesy of NORAD hide caption

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Courtesy of NORAD

Opinion

StoryCorps

NORAD's Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport

It all started in 1955 with a misprint in a Colorado newspaper and a call to Col. Harry Shoup's secret military hotline. Shoup played along with the tiny voice who called, and a tradition was born.

NORAD's Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport

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A Funny Philosopher Tackles A Tough Query: 'Does Santa Exist?'

Eric Kaplan has written for various shows, including The Big Bang Theory, Futurama and Flight of the Concords. Stephanie Diani/Dutton hide caption

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Stephanie Diani/Dutton

Author Interviews

A Funny Philosopher Tackles A Tough Query: 'Does Santa Exist?'

Eric Kaplan's son had a zoo trip canceled because one mom worried about reindeer-induced questions. So Kaplan, a comedy writer and philosophy grad student, started pondering the puzzle of St. Nick.

A Funny Philosopher Tackles A Tough Query: 'Does Santa Exist?'

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