In the United States, Santa Claus adapts to the pandemic and makes videoconferences
Audio 01:20
Video conferencing is used by Santa Claus around the world to keep in touch with children.
AP - Carla Carniel
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
This year, Santa Claus is swapping his sleigh for videoconferencing.
No question of approaching families during traditional visits due to the pandemic.
How are the American Santa Claus adapting?
Publicity
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"
Ho Ho Ho, as you have grown since last year my child,
" exclaims Joe Harkins on the other end of the phone.
He has been a professional Santa Claus for 6 years.
The 87-year-old has chosen to do his work exclusively online this year due to the pandemic.
“
The majority of professional Santa Claus are elderly and many have health problems.
So I gave up meeting with families so as not to endanger my health.
But what I miss the most is the direct contact with the children obviously.
But the video allows the child to re-watch it several times and to keep an eternal memory of it.
"
A "
magical experience
" despite the Covid-19
Mitch Allen is Chief Elf.
This is how the founder of HireSanta wants it to be presented.
He recruits Santas from all over the world and confirms that the demand for videoconferencing has increased by 50%.
“
This year, people need to rediscover tradition, family… And Santa Claus is the symbol of all that.
And I think that's why video conferencing demands are exploding, because parents want to give this magical experience to their children despite the Covid-19.
"
This year, Santa Claus had to redouble their creativity, to show that even a pandemic cannot take away the magic of Christmas.
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