If you are lucky and live in certain select locations across the globe, you might have recently noticed large numbers of men and women, dressed like Santa, ascending upon your city. Do not be alarmed. This is SantaCon. Sure, there may be a little drinking involved or maybe even bowling, but these folks are in it for fun. You know? Have a good time, spread holiday cheer, and all that sort of thing.

It all started about 23 years ago, depending on when you read this, when members of the San Francisco lodge of the Cacophony Society staged the First Annual SantaCon in 1994. Armed with machetes and bottles of whiskey, these brave adventures set forth in their Santa suits with one thing in mind… show the world that Santa exists and that Christmas can be celebrated without all that commercialism bullshit that exists today. Okay, maybe that’s two things. Anyway, it was all down hill from there as you might have noticed from the police reports, bar tabs, and so on.

I haven’t, personally, had the good fortune to witness or be a part of this glorious occasion. One of these days, I’m going to gather the funds, dust off the old Santa suit, and jump into the writhing thrall.

Until then, I can live vicariously through you. So, if you’re in the area of a SantaCon, take a lot of photos and send them to me or something.

More coverage as this story progresses.