From the perspective of Old St. Nick, Salt Lake area children are largely unaffected by the bad economy.
Three Santas interviewed Sunday said kids are asking for computers, game stations and iPods.
"The kids I've talked to are not aware of the economy," said The Gateway mall's Santa. "They still want what they want."
South Towne Center's Santa agreed: "Kids want more expensive electronics and bigger and better toys than they've ever asked for."
But Hogle Zoo's Santa said that in addition to requests for the Nintendo DSi and Wii, a few kids have said they just want to spend Christmas with the family.
Santa said he replies to them, "That's the best thing you can ask for this Christmas or any Christmas."
All three Santas said they are careful not to make promises. Ask Gateway's Santa for an X-Box and he'll say he has to check the storehouse to "make sure we made enough."
South Towne's Santa said he answers vaguely or diverts kids by asking what else they want or how they liked what they received last year.
Hogle Zoo's Santa said he repeats requests so parents can hear them.
But when a child asks tough questions, like bringing a dead parent back, "all you can do is give a hug and say, 'Santa loves you very much,' " said the Hogle Zoo Santa.
Said South Towne's Santa, "Some, I could cry for an hour, because Santa can't bring Grandma back or Daddy home from Iraq for Christmas."
Staying jolly on the job can be difficult for other reasons, said South Towne's Santa, who has been head-banged, shin-kicked, urinated on and has suffered a cut lip and cracked tooth from frightened, flailing youngsters, forced by their parents to sit on his lap.
Santa recommends parents acclimate their young children by stopping by for a casual visit or two before the final interview. He also urged parents to bring their children early in the season and early in the day to avoid waits in long lines that can last up to two hours.
Hogle Zoo's Santa had this message for kids: Keep up the "nice" and don't do anything "naughty."
"We're still watching," Santa warned. "My elves are on full patrol."
He said naughty kids can expect worse than a lump of coal in their stocking.
"No one really gets coal. It's a myth," the jolly old fellow revealed. "I bring them feetie pajamas. And no one wants feetie pajamas!"
