Covid-19 Silver Linings: Whimsical “Surfing Santa” events cancelled across the globe as states re-shutter ahead of the holidays!

Small blessings.

I’ll tell you what really gets my goat these days. Whimsy. I do not like whimsical wall hangings, coffee mugs, fonts, cartoons, needlepoint.

I do not like whimsical coloring books, movies or holiday “traditions” like “ugly sweater” parties or “surfing Santas.”

The surfing Santa origin story is shrouded in mists of history, but there are, today, three massive gaggles, one Orlando-adjacent another in Huntington Beach and another still somewhere in Australia.

Participating surfers dress up like Santa and paddle out, usually on longer than appropriate boards.

Extremely whimsical but likely not this year as states re-shutter ahead of the expected holiday Coronavirus surge.

Per Orlando’s Spectrum News.

Longtime Surfing Santa Sandra Goodwin says she’s been part of the group since it was small enough to be hosted at the founder’s home 10 years ago. Now, it attracts people from all over the world.

“It was very intimate. Everyone would bring a dish,” Goodwin says. “We would bring it to the house and gather around. It was like an extended family.”

So far Cocoa Beach Winter Fest, the Christmas parade, and other events have been canceled.

City Commissioner Karalyn Woulas says it wasn’t the city’s decision but was left up to the individual organizations.

“The people who were in charge of canceling it did it out of concern for the community,” Woulas adds.

Goodwin says if Surfing Santas is canceled, she encourages people to keep the tradition going on a smaller scale.

“What I’ll probably do is put on a Santa hat and go out surfing. If you have your bubble of surfing friends, put on a Santa hat and take a picture,” Goodwin says.

I bet everyone brought whimsical dishes.

See you next year, surfing Satans.