Santaland Diaries facts for kids
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"Santaland Diaries" is a funny story written by David Sedaris. It's about his time working as a Christmas elf in "Santaland" at a big store called Macy's.
About the Story
This story first became famous when David Sedaris read it on a radio show called Morning Edition on December 23, 1992. People really liked it, and it helped him become well-known.
Later, David Sedaris put the story in his books, Barrel Fever (1994) and Holidays on Ice (1997). A longer version of the story was also shared on another radio show, This American Life, in 1996.
From Radio to Stage
In 1996, a person named Joe Mantello turned Sedaris's story into a play. It's a one-act play, meaning it's short and has only one main part. The play, called The Santaland Diaries, first opened in New York City on November 7, 1996. The actor Timothy Olyphant was the first to play the role.
Since then, this play has become a popular show during the holiday season. Many schools and local theaters perform it.
Is the Story All True?
David Sedaris has said that his story is true. However, some people have checked the facts and found that parts of it might be made up or stretched a bit.
For example, a writer named Alexander S. Heard looked into Sedaris's stories, including Santaland Diaries, in 2007. He found that some parts were exaggerated or changed to make the story funnier. Even though Sedaris did work at Macy's during that time, some details were not exactly as they happened.
It's important to remember that writers sometimes change things a little to entertain their audience. They want to tell a good story, not always give a perfect news report.
