Anyone obsessed with Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak’s long-standing friendship (guilty!) will love to hear that he plays an important role in the lives of Kaling’s children. The mother of multiples is a single mother to daughters Katherine “Kit,” 7, Spencer, 4, and baby Anne, and she opened up about it Good morning America that Novak “dresses up as Santa Claus” for her every year.

“We create this whole thing where we make hot chocolate in the house, the doorbell rings and he’s dressed as Santa Claus,” Kaling said of her ex The office Co-writer and co-star who apparently draws “a lot of inspiration from Michael Scott in Santa Claus costume.”

“And he says, ‘Oh, the sled is broken, I need to come in and rest while we refuel!'” she continued People. “Then the children meet Santa Claus and he asks them whether they were good or bad.”

And now we have to stop and thank Kaling and Novak for dreaming up such a fun tradition! This isn’t some old Santa Claus sitting in a big, comfy chair. This is a Santa Claus who needs to repair his sleigh. A Santa Claus that Kit found sleeping on the couch one year. Kaling said her daughters were “so excited” after “Santa” left, but admitted that Novak may find himself unemployed sooner than anyone would like.

“It’s going to be interesting this year because I feel like (Kit) might not buy it,” Kaling admitted. “The 4 year old, we’re not sure.”

“You know him particularly well. And he’s a good actor, but…” she joked.

And now the best friends have to see: Will this be the end of a tradition that dates back to 2020, when Kaling couldn’t take her girls to see Santa during the COVID-19 pandemic?

“This will be the year we hope the eldest will be relaxed for the younger two,” he said I’ve never done that before co-creator said.

And of course we hope for that too. Kit, please keep your cool so that this endearing tradition continues…even though it might be problematic.

“Just so you know, it’s like we’re Hindus and BJ is Jewish, so this is really… like cultural appropriation on our part,” Kaling joked when the tradition began long ago.

If yes Is We would say that cultural appropriation is the most endearing form we have ever seen. Every child should experience the starry wonder that the Kaling girls must experience when their godfather appears in his Santa Claus costume. And we hope it will last for many years to come.

Find out how our favorite celebrities are spending Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter holidays with their families.