What follows is a thoroughly unscientific survey of the Santa scene at the area's top shopping destinations. Mostly, Santas are on duty during mall hours, but it's wise to call ahead to confirm when Santa takes a break to feed the reindeer, and plan your shopping times accordingly (we found this out the hard way). And be aware that most malls employ more than one St. Nick for the holiday season, so your actual knee-sitting experience may vary.
| Mall name |
Tysons Corner Center |
Springfield Mall |
Dulles Town Center |
Montgomery Mall |
White Flint Mall |
| How do Santa's surroundings look? |
The most ornate surroundings we visited. Children walk up a red carpet, through an honor guard of huge toy soldiers, just to reach Santa's throne. |
This Santa is brought to you by the letter X (as in Xmas) and the people of Sesame Street, so Santa's sitting on the stoop of 123 Sesame St. (Bert and Ernie's fictitious address). |
It's a huge playhouse in the middle of the mall, surrounded by spinning statues and fake snow. |
It's a Martha Stewart Xmas – Doric columns spiraled with greenery, red velvet ribbons, and reindeer shaped from plants. |
The center of the mall is a large, snow-covered house at the North Pole. Santa's sitting on his front porch. |
| Is Santa a jolly old elf? |
Very much so, laughing and joking with children as well as passers-by. |
The jolliest. Santa high-fives the children and engages all shoppers, even those on the upper level, waving and giving them a booming "Merry Christmas!" |
This is a very low-key Santa. He smiles broadly and talks quietly to each child for a while, though. |
Yes, laughing and waving to each child that passes, whether they sit on his lap or not. |
Friendly, but not over-enthusiastic. Passers-by get a smile and wave. He talks quietly to each child. |
| Does he shake when he laughs, like a bowl full of jelly? |
Yes. He's not very stout, but he has a big smile and laughs a lot. |
Yes – this Santa is well padded, and he laughs loudly and often. |
Santa's stuffed like a Christmas goose. |
Yep. It's all about the potbelly padding. Santa can fit three children comfortably on his lap. |
We realize he's getting in shape for the busiest night of the year, but Santa looks like he's skipped a few meals. |
| Mall name |
Tysons Corner Center |
Springfield Mall |
Dulles Town Center |
Montgomery Mall |
White Flint Mall |
| Does the beard look real? |
Very much so. It's lush without being too long. |
It's a bit short – more Freud than Father Christmas – but authentic enough. |
Something just didn't sit right – we were tempted to tug. |
It's well trimmed and flows down to a neat point on his chest. |
Yes, because it's tinged with gray – not a pure, snowy, fresh-out-of-the-box white. |
| How do the kids look? |
Awed by the walk up the carpet. They keep looking around at the soldiers. And Santa, of course, makes them laugh and jump up and down. |
Like they're in heaven. Santa makes them giggle, they dig being on Sesame Street, and squeal at the animatronic Elmo. |
Kids were getting antsy in line, and were fascinated by the fake snow. But a smile and a quiet word from Santa calmed them down. |
Happy. Santa waves to them, and many run directly to him. Santa says hi before sending them back to the line. |
Thrilled to be there, and they smiled a lot as Santa spoke to them. |
| Do you get a candy cane? |
Nope. A silly little pseudo-Koosh ball that's sporting reindeer horns or a Santa cap. What's the world coming to? |
No. A picture to color and a box of three crayons – similar to what you might get at Denny's. One girl (maybe 7 or 8) whispered to her mother, "I'm too old for these!" |
Uh-uh. Another of those darn Christmas kooshes. But something's better than nothing, we guess. |
Inflatable reindeer horns to put on your child's head. Why, oh why? But if you buy the family photo package, you get a holly-covered Beanie Bear. |
No – a sheet of Christmas-themed stickers/stamps. Could be worse. |
| Mall name |
Tysons Corner Center |
Springfield Mall |
Dulles Town Center |
Montgomery Mall |
White Flint Mall |
• 
Mike Graham, 43, has portrayed Santa Claus at Tysons Corner Center for the past 10 years.
(Susan Biddle/The Washington Post)
