Each year, as December 25 approaches, Santa Claus becomes the attraction in department stores.

In shopping malls, children, even intimidated, rush to the man with the white beard to be photographed on his knees.

And in a somewhat forced voice, he asks them if they have been very good during the past twelve months.

But who is hiding behind this red coat?

To whom do we then entrust the heavy burden of replacing this legendary being?

There are many suitors, but he is not a substitute for Santa Claus who wants to…

From the North Pole to Pôle emploi

If in some families, the custom is that the uncle with the round belly or the grandfather with white hair takes on the role of the man in red for an evening, for others, it is a real job. . And renting Santa Claus for the holidays is a real business. From September, job offers abound on the Pôle Emploi site because many shopping malls, businesses and event agencies want to find the perfect person.

This is particularly the case with Showpack & co, which recruits more than 100 Santas each year for its customers, as explained by the marketing and communication department: “This is the offer that we sell the most. , because the rental of Santa Claus is a business that works very well, to the point that we are very often in short supply from the month of November.

Most of the time, candidates apply for half-day fees, and the lucky ones for a one-month fixed-term contract.

Artists, not amateurs

Competition between applicants is fierce.

Because it is not enough to put on a white beard and a red costume to be a good Santa Claus.

Whether it is Pôle emploi or event agencies, recruiters are looking above all for artists.

This is why the candidates are mostly actors, intermittents of the spectacle or extras.

Some advertisements require several years of seniority as a professional Santa Claus to get the job.

But it is also and above all necessary to have the head of employment.

A thin young man who does not know how to transform his voice will have no chance of being retained.

Seasonal and precarious work

Even if the demand is high, the job of Santa Claus remains a precarious job.

Most actors are paid at the rate of the gross hourly minimum wage and the better-off can hope to leave with 150 euros at the end of the day, sometimes more.


As for companies and stores, they reserve a budget each year to ensure the animation in their premises.

Event agencies charge around 400 euros for the rental of a Santa Claus to their clients.

Obviously, the more services there are, the more the prices increase.

Thus, for elves, it will cost an average of 650 euros.

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