Santa’s first name is FRED?

Here’s commercialism at it’s worst. The Santa picture taking area at the Short Hills Mall in Short Hills, NJ has gotten bigger each year — even including an actual walk-through with snow falling down!

But this year, the tie in is with the Fred Claus movie, and it’s SO integrated that little kids are sure to be confused between the two. Surely a marketer’s dream for hijacking the American Christmas and turning it into one big advertisement for a movie.

Anyway, if you want to plunk $50 down for a picture with Santa, head on down JFK Parkway to the Short Hills Mall for holiday shopping with FRED – Santa’s official first name according to the mall.