Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak Are Starting the Sweetest Holiday Tradition This Year

Mindy Kaling Responded After a Commenter Said Her Kids Have "Very Caucasian Names"

Her son and daughter have very special middle names.

The holidays may look a little different this year, but Mindy Kaling is still making sure that there’s whimsy and cheer for her 3-year-old daughter, Katherine, and 3-month-old son, Spencer.

“What’s fun about when you have your own kids is you can kind of make stuff up and then just decide that you’re going to do that every single year,” Kaling told designer Tory Burch in a special holiday video where both are wearing holiday looks from the brand. Kaling wears a festive button cardigan, and Burch wears a wool gray blazer.

Describing her new traditions, the actress and creator said that she and her daughter will be making cookies and apple cider for Christmas when a jolly ~stranger~ is to appear.

“Her godfather is B.J. Novak, and he is going to show up and go to our living room, where the tree is, in a Santa costume,” Kaling explained.

“Just so you know, we’re Hindu and B.J. is Jewish, so this is like cultural appropriation on our part,” she joked.

The Never Have I Ever co-creator said she was inspired to recruit Novak because, due to the pandemic, she and Kit were unable to visit Santa at The Grove this year. “She’s the one kid that doesn’t cry and scream,” she said. “I was bummed out she couldn’t see Santa, so this is the whole ruse that we’re going to do, and this might become a tradition.”

The meticulously plotted scheme involves the tinkling of bells and Novak (as Santa, of course) asleep on the couch.

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“It’s so complicated why Santa was there, why he’s taking a nap …” Kaling said, adding that she and Novak are worried Kit might recognize her godfather.

Kaling shared that she plans to get her daughter (who’s “pretty tomboyish”) some Hot Wheels for Christmas.

“She’s a little ambivalent about her little brother,” the actress explained, “so we have to do that thing where Spencer, who’s three months old, like ‘oh, he bought you a gift!’”

If, like Mindy, gifts are at the top of your mind you can check out the Tory Burch Foundation Seed Box, which she unboxes in the video above.