Coronavirus risk leads to recruitment of younger Santas
Not even Christmas can escape the global pandemic, with COVID-19 requiring a new wave of “younger” Santas, who are now being recruited to tackle the demands of this year’s festive season.
NSW
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Christmas 2020 is being reshaped by COVID-19 and the pandemic’s Santa clause is younger Kris Kringles who won’t be offering their knee to kids.
The hunt is underway for younger Father Christmases to appear in shopping centres amid predictions the older men who’ve traditionally donned the red suit won’t be applying because of concerns they are more vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Sitting on Santas knee is also a thing of the past thanks to social distancing.
And while it will be impossible to conceal from children the new rules about not jumping onto Santa’s lap as they list all they want for Christmas, youngsters won’t suspect a thing about the age of the bloke behind the white beard thanks to the magic of make-up and the bushiness of those famous beards.
And one younger Father Christmas has already fashioned an answer to any child who wonders why he’s a very slim Santa.
The Scene to Believe group, who manages Santa “actors” and his helpers across more than 200 locations in Australia and New Zealand, said this week while they accept applications from any age, they are encouraging younger people to apply and for the first time Father Christmas this year might be in their twenties or thirties.
“COVID has reshaped our ideas of who Santa needs to be and it means that he’s not necessarily defined by age,” a spokeswoman for the Scene to Believe group said.
“What we’re doing is just changing the way we recruit, given the current climate, we’re hoping that a lot of actors would be interested.”
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One of Santa’s newest trainees, Rowan Stewart, 37, said applying for the position was a no-brainer.
“Well, you’re basically just talking and playing with kids for four to five hours and everyone just really likes you, you’re like a bit of celebrity and it’s just great fun,” he said.
“It starts out at $30 per hour, so I’ve definitely worked harder for less.
“For the kids, that’s a day that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. That photo’s going to be on the fridge, it’s going to be around for at least the next 10 years.
“It’s like a rite of passage, to be part of something that’s going to be a lasting memory in those kids lives, it’s just great.”
Asked if he’s concerned clued-on children will work out his age, Mr Stewart said he’s got just the answer for that.
“I’d just say that Santa’s been on those low-calorie biscuits and he’s been doing a lot of working out, and thank them for the compliment,” he said.
“Anything you don’t really have an answer for you can just make up on the spot, once you’re in the suit you can get around anything, you can make things as magical as you want it.”
As far as social distancing, kids not being able to sit on Santas’ knee “definitely won’t take away from the magic”.
“You’ve still got the entire experience, the beautiful set and the trees and the reindeer and elves, so it’s all of that and plus they’re meeting Santa,” Mr Stewart said.
“The older children don’t really sit on Santa‘s knee anyway.”
Veteran Santa characters will continue to be present at all their usual spots and will still be involved in the training of all the new recruits.
One long-time Santa actor, Trevor Hallett, has given out some friendly advice for his younger counterparts, guiding them on how to “become” Father Christmas.
“My advice to them is just to be Santa and make sure you spread the Christmas spirit,” he said.
“When you put on the suit – remember that you are Santa.”
Apply to play Santa via santa@scenetobelieve.com.
Originally published as Coronavirus risk leads to recruitment of younger Santas