Asian Santa Claus in Richmond BC – Why did it take so long?
Asian Santa takes the reins
Here's a story about the first Asian Santa Claus at Richmond Centre Mall. George King, age 73, was born in Shanghai, then lived in Taiwan where he saw his first Santa Claus hawking merchandise in department stores. Apparently there is not long tradition of Santa as a benevolent figure bearing gifts in China.Mr. King isn't really up on all the names of the reindeer, and apparently wasn't aware of Rudoph.
While Santa diversity may be a good idea, cultural insensitivity or ignorance cannot be ignored. I think that in Greater Vancouver's history of Chinese born in BC since Won Alexander Cumyow in 1861 – Richmond Centre should be able to find a Canadian of Chinese descent who truly understands the important role that Santa Claus plays in the development of Canadian children.
I saw my first Asian Santa Claus in 1980 at a Honolulu shopping mall. I even have a picture with our family and Santa “Uncle Tony” Claus at a Christmas Eve Luau party in Kaneohe – just North of Honolulu. 27 years later and Richmond Centre gets big press over there first Chinese Santa Claus and he doesn't know who Rudolph is? Do we dare ask him about “Olive” the other reindeer? or would that be too cruel?