Q: What do you call a couple hundred Santas running around the National Mall in broad daylight, singing Christmas carols, stopping traffic, and bringing a healthy amount of Season's Greetings wherever they go?

A: Halloween in December, better known as Santarchy D.C.

We were there yesterday as the annual gathering of the Santas took place -- beginning on the steps of the Museum of Natural History before continuing on to the merry-go-round, the Washington Monument, and the White House. All sorts of Santas took part: D.C. United Santa, Rock-Climbing Santa, Wisconsin Badger Santa, Pirate Santa, Ninja Santa, Recession Santa, Bah-Humbug Santa, a group of reindeer, a jack-in-the-box, some sexy Santa-ettes, a penguin and Jack Skellington. Most everyone involved were handing presents out to passers-by: everything from candy to animals balloons to tampons. (Yes, tampons.) Everything went off without a hitch, although the guards at the Washington Monument were less than happy at the Santa flash mob forming a giant ring around the monument. No word on that jet pack we asked for when we were six -- but all in all, a holly jolly good time.

It's harder than you think to get a large group of Santas to cross the street. (Kyle Gustafson / www.photokyle.com)

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