Mindy Kaling’s Christmas tradition with B.J. Novak might be coming to an end soon
Mindy Kaling might have to work extra hard to keep the Christmas spirit alive this year.
The 45-year-old “The Office” alum is now entering the fifth year of having her friend and former costar B.J. Novak dress up as Santa Claus for her three children.
The tradition began in 2020 when she was unable to take her kids to meet Santa due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Novak, godfather to Kaling’s two eldest children, daughter Katherine “Kit” Swati, 6, and son Spencer Avu, 4, decided to step in and do his part.
The tradition was a hit then and it’s a hit now, as they’ve done it every year since.
“We create this whole thing where we’re making hot chocolate in the house, the doorbell rings and it’s him dressed as Santa,” Kaling said of the tradition during a Dec. 4 interview with “Good Morning America.”
“And he’s like, ‘Oh, the sleigh broke down, I need to come in and take a rest while we refuel!’” she added.
While she said her kids are normally “so excited” to meet Santa, she fears her eldest daughter, who turns 7 this month, might be a little too old for the gimmick.
“But the 7-year-old, it’s going to be interesting this year because I feel like she might not buy it. The 4-year-old, we’re not sure,” she said.
“They know him very well, especially. And he’s a good actor, but ...” she joked.
Kaling said she hopes this is the year “the oldest one will be chill for the younger two.” If not, this could be the end of one of their favorite holiday traditions.
As for Novak’s Santa impression, Kaling describes it as a “funny character” largely inspired by Steve Carell’s portrayal of Santa Claus as Michael Scott in “The Office.”
“He wears the pillow under the suit and [says] ‘Ho, ho, ho, hello little children.’ It’s a very funny character,” she said on the morning talk show.
Kaling has always spoken highly of Novak and the role he plays in her childrens’ lives.
“When I said, you know, ‘B.J., if something happens to me, it’s not like I have a husband, like you have to just take the kids,’” she said during a 2020 interview with Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb.
“And he’s like ‘Oh, my God, don’t tempt me,’” she added.
She also joked that he once asked if it were possible to “sue for god-paternity rights” because he loves them so much.
Aside from Kit and Spencer, Kaling is also a mother to daughter Anne, who was born in late February.
“She’s the best birthday present I could’ve ever imagined,” Kaling wrote in a June 24 Instagram post, just as the star was celebrating her 45th birthday.
“When things are hard, whenever I veer towards cynicism, my three kids are such a great reminder of the pure joy in my life. I’m so lucky I live in a place where I could do this by myself, on my own timeline,” she continued.
