I can explain the "whats" and "hows" of Santarchy, but not the "whys." Frankly speaking, I don't know if anyone can. Some situations just don't make any sense until you're in them, and even then you may be tempted to fall back on that classic excuse, "I was under the influence of performance art at the time."

Santarchy is such an event. Born in 1994 as SantaCon, a typically Dada-ist evening on the town by the prank-happy Cacophony Society, Santarchy has grown to become an international phenomenon. Put simply, on one crisp winter evening in cities around the world, a multitude of uninhibited souls garbed in Santa Claus suits gather together to wreak (harmless) holiday havoc. Over the course of their outing, this veritable Kringle Army will sing off-key Christmas carols to bewildered mall shoppers, frequent un-Santalike establishments like strip clubs, and drink in as many dive bars as humanly possible.

I must hasten to add that these are not bad Santas. Though born of chaos, Santarchy has strict rules of conduct, chief among them to be nothing less than kind and respectful to kids, who may be puzzled and a bit frightened by such a large gathering of Santas. (Particpants are told to carry small toys to give inquisitive youngsters. Santas are further compelled to yield to police and mall security, to not quarrel with each other and to hide their, um, "reindeer juice" in something inconspicuous, "like a thoroughly cleaned Pine-Sol bottle."

Santarchy happens Saturday, Dec. 10. Local pranksters the Guerilla Masquerade Party — an outfit only somewhat more organized than a demolition derby — has all the information you need to suit up and go Santa if you're so inclined. We ask only that if you do join this year's Santa mob, you do two things for us: Please stay out of trouble, and please send us a note afterward, telling us why we'd want to try such a thing ourselves.

More links:
Santarchy 2005 (GMP Seattle)
The Cacophony Society

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