Ho ho… no! The fond old tradition of Santa throwing sweets into a crowd of children has been scuppered.

We recently reported how every year at this time the Safety Elf appears to dampen down festivities on ‘Elf & Safety grounds. Well, it seems he’s struck again…

Santa didn’t throw sweets to children when switching on this year’s Christmas lights in Enniskillen. At previous events Santa and his little helpers have thrown sweets through the air in order to reach as much of the large crowd as possible. But this year candy-loving parents noticed there were “no flying sweets”.

However, the council claim the practice of throwing sweets has not taken place for a number of years in the interests of Health & Safety. No danger then of anyone being grievously wounded by a flying bonbon!

The council say though that more than £300 worth of sweets were distributed and that an extended barrier allowed Santa to meet as many children as possible. But disappointed parents said sweets were simply handed out to those that could reach in the crowd.

Widespread bans

Councils in England have also forbidden sweet throwing into crowds. For example, Santa was banned from throwing traditional boiled sweets from the town hall balcony at this year’s Colchester Christmas Fair in case children below got hurt. Softer marshmallows and cakes must now be used despite the fact nobody has been injured before!

‘We are gone mad’

The sweet throw bans have been described as “crazy” and “absolutely absurd”.

Former councillor and commentator Seamus Close has reportedly said that if councils are given to complaining because Santa might throw sweeties to children then we really must be cracking up!

Mr Close rants on “those poor shepherds up on a mountain on their own, Health & Safety would probably tell them they shouldn’t be there. And as for the baby Jesus in the crib, I mean, what conditions. No central heating there. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and put in a manger. The ox and the ass and all those other animals in there. Health & Safety have little to do if they miss all that and come at poor Santa for throwing a few sweets around the place. We are gone mad as a society”.

Contact Ellis Whittam to stop Health & Safety driving you mad!