Ponsonby Central unveiled its gender neutral Santa this week (Ponsonby Central/facebook)
A New Zealand shopping centre has unveiled a gender fluid Santa Claus as its Christmas display.
The new version of Kris Kringle, dressed in knickers and fishnet stockings, is modelled after Mary Poppins, carrying the magical British nanny’s umbrella and a carpet bag “full of presents,” according to the Ponsonby Central complex in Auckland which it stands over.
“The Coca-Cola company doesn’t have a monopoly on what he/she looks like.”
The gender fluid Santa’s creators defended their depiction of the jolly gift-giver, which was revealed on Thursday (November 29), saying that Santa’s image was up to your personal interpretation.
They explained that “our representation of Santa can be Mary Poppins or whatever race/gender/persuasion we prefer and can imagine,” according to Newshub.
The gender neutral Santa is based on the protagonist of Mary Poppins Returns. (Walt Disney Pictures)
“The Coca-Cola company doesn’t have a monopoly on what he/she looks like.”
Writing on Facebook, Ponsonby Central called its gender fluid Santa “a wee bit cheeky,” dubbing them “Santa Poppins, the ultimate nanny (or should we say ‘manny’).”
The company explained: “We thought that with a Mary Poppins movie coming out it would be fun to do a gesture of admiration to this much-loved character, complete with a carpet bag full of presents.”
Political opposition to gender fluid Santa
The gender fluid Santa display was reportedly planned since August, but was coincidentally unveiled in the same week that the country’s Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges mentioned Mary Poppins while saying Santa should be played by men.
Bridges, who heads the centre-right New Zealand National Party, told Three’s radio programme The AM Show: “Mary Poppins is a woman, Santa Claus is a man. That’s how it should be,” according to The New Zealand Herald.
He continued: “I think it’s just PC gone—I don’t know if it’s mad, but too far. You guys this morning are telling me that man didn’t walk on the moon, now you’re telling me Santa’s a woman.
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