“Christmas: The time of year when everyone gets Santamental”

“Santamental” (Santa Claus + sentimental) is a popular portmanteau term used at Christmas. “Mr. Santamental Claus” was published in a November 1938 advertisement in the Los Angeles (CA) Times. 
 
New York-born entertainment columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) used “Santamental” in several columns, crediting American actor and singer Russell Nype in the first citation in December 1947:
   
“Russell Nype: This is the time of year when everyone becomes Santamental.”
 
 
24 November 1938, Los Angeles (CA) Times, advertising supplement, pg. 1:
Having, in his salad days, allowed himself to become cluttered up with the helter-skelter of modern sophistication…streamlining and stuff…that hardy perennial Mr. Santamental Claus now comes out for hearts and flowers, waits and wassails, and a Christmas as sweet and old-fashioned as Tiny Tim.
THE MAY COMPANY
 
9 December 1947, Akron (OH) Beacon Journal, pg. 52, col. 2:
QUOTATION MARKSMANSHIP: Russell Nype: This is the time of year when everyone becomes Santamental.
     
7 December 1949, Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR), Walter Winchell entertainment column, pg. 27, col. 8:
Eight premieres are expected before the Santamental holiday.
 
14 December 1951, Boston (MA) Daily Globe, pg. 2, col. 1 ad:
GOT THAT SANTA-MENTAL FEELING
(Filene’s Automatic Bargain Basement.—ed.)
   
Google Books
Advertiser’s Digest
Volumes 18-19
1953
Pg. 224:
This is the time of the year when everyone becomes Santamental.
 
29 November 1954, Washington (DC) Post and Times Herald, “Walter Winchell of New York: The Broadway Lights,” pg. 33, col. 5:
Judy Garland’s recording: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is listenable and Santamental.
 
6 December 1954, Chicago (IL) Daily Tribune, “Tower Ticker” by Herb Lyon, pt. 4, pg. 15, col. 2:
“Quote” says this is the time of year when everybody gets Santamental.
   
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The Irish Digest
Volume 85, Issue 2
1965
Pg. 19:
Belfast man’s definition of Christmas: “The time of year when everybody gets a wee bit Santamental.”
 
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The Ad-Libber’s Handbook:
2000 New Laughs for Speakers
By Robert Orben
Garden City, NY: Doubleday
1969
Pg. 39:
Christmas— the time when everybody gets a little Santamental.
 
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pachangadiaries
‏@pachangadiaries
- Christmas: The time when everyone gets Santamental.
6:08 PM - 17 Dec 2008
 
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ivan chandra
‏@e_motion
is WisHinG “MeRRy ChRisTMaS, NeArLy EveryBody”. LeTs GetS SanTaMenTal!
9:28 PM - 23 Dec 2008
 
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Little Santa
‏@littlesanta
Christmas: The time when everyone gets Santamental.: http://bit.ly/HJyGd
6:21 PM - 18 Sep 2009
 
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Christmas Jokes and Riddles for Kids
By Christy Davis
Published by author
2013
Pg. ?:
Everyone gets soooo Santa—mental at Christmas time.
 
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Dick and Dom’s Christmas Jokes, Nuts and Stuffing!
By Dominic Wood and Richard McCourt
London: Pan Macmillan
2015
Pg. ?:
Why does Father Christmas cry a lot?
Because he gets a little santamental!