Santa's Identity Crisis

Dave Kearns (re-)posted a humorous slant on identity management from the perspective of Santa's many identities:

It's that time of year when it seems our biggest identity problem is "will I remember who and where I am if I have another round of egg nog?" But there's one guy who goes through a major identity crisis each year at this time.

Every year, from Dec. 6 through Jan. 6, someone visits many of the children of the world and brings them presents. If you think remembering all your user names is tough, think of the problem he has! In various places around the world he's known as:

Agios Vassilios
Befano
Belsnickel
Black Peter
Bozic Bata
Bozicek
Christmas Bock
Ded Moroz
Dedek Mraz
Diado Coleda
Dun Che Lao Ren
Father Christmas
Father Frost
Fur Clad Nicholas
Gaghant Baba
Ganesha
Grandfather Frost
Hagios Nikolaos
Jezuscek
Jolasveinn
Jolly Old Elf
Joulupukki
Jouluvana
Julemand
Julgubben
Jultomten
Kaledu Senis
Kanakaloka
Karácsony Apó
Kriss Kringle
Miklavz
Mos Craciun
Niklo
Noel
På norsk
Pai Natal
Papa Noel
Papai Noel
Pelze-Nicol
Pére Noel
Saint Nicholas
Samiclaus
San Nicolás
Santa Claus
Santa Klausam
Santa Kurohsu
Santy
Shakhta Babah
Shengdan Laoren
Sing dan lo ian
Sint Nikolass
Sinterklaas
Sion Corn
Star Man
Svaty Mikulas
Swiety Mikolaj
Tomte
Vovo Indo
Winter Holiday Old Man
Wise Man
Ziemmassve'tku veci'tis

That's almost 60 different usernames! And those are only the most popular ones. Now since he does have to travel around the world, he probably needs a passport in each name as well as a description and picture. This part is hard to explain, though, as the pictures I've seen show both a tall thin man as well as a short round one. It may be that we're dealing with multiple people rather than multiple personas. I understand that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating.

Dave, thanks for reminding us that identity spans more than just IT!

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