You're listening to Imaginary Worlds. I'm Eric Malinsky. When I began this podcast years ago,

I always knew that I wanted to do episodes where I don't just cover imaginary worlds. I wanted to

create them as well. In previous episodes, I've interviewed vampires, Captain Hook,

HP Lovecraft's Brain in a Jar, the ghosts of Christmas, past, present, and future,

and three different versions of James Bond. I decided that I wanted to make audio dramas

an annual tradition and keep one foot in an imaginary world. So sit back, relax,

and for the rest of the episode, suspend your disbelief.

Christmas is almost here, but you knew that already because Santa Claus has been everywhere.

The funny thing is, Santa, as we know him, hasn't been around that long.

He used to be one of many benevolent beings that appeared around the holidays.

Today, those other entities are in danger of being completely overshadowed by the cultural

juggernaut of Santa Claus.

So a group of them are banding together to do a PR campaign.

They're calling it the say no to Santa World Tour.

I was invited to a press junket to meet some of these mythical beings.

I was not going to turn down an invitation like that, even though press junkets can be a bit

of a grind. The event took place at a swanky hotel in Soho. I went up to the seventh floor,

and I saw this tall, thin man with a clipboard and a headset. He had a long white beard and a red cloak

with a hood. That was Pierre Noel, the French equivalent to Santa Claus. He was also the organizer of the tour. He looked like if Santa had a younger brother, who was much more cosmopolitan.

Ah, hello. Good morning. I am Per Noelle. You're from imaginary worlds?

Yes. Bonjour. Je pral francs. I'll take that as a yes.

You are Eric Molinsky. Yes. yes. Well, you are Eric Molinsky.

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