Rebecca Hall on Filming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Subtitles
  • Off
  • English

Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom

Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom

Start Slideshow
Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

If you, like me, ever asked yourself, “What’s next? Santa Claus on Zoom?” during the coronavirus pandemic, let me just say: 2020 is the year of virtual hangouts. It’s now clear that anything can happen on video chat, from work meetings to birthday parties. I can personally attest that I gave my maid of honor speech virtually at my best friend’s wedding—an entire continent away. That said, Santa is indeed on Zoom, perhaps even on a screen near you.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

2 / 10

Santa Got Zoom in the North Pole

Santa Got Zoom in the North Pole

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

In the UK—which is currently under lockdown until Dec. 2—the Children’s Hospice South West has partnered with The Virtual Santa, a new virtual creative Santa team, to offer live and pre-recorded Santa visits via Zoom. Surprisingly, the process is quite streamlined, consisting of booking the visit, saving your Zoom meeting ID and password, and then logging into your magical meeting. Currently, prices start at £9.99 (around $13) and increase weekly, ranging from £12.99 (roughly $17) the first week of December to £49.99 ($66.50) on Christmas Eve. Ten percent of every live Zoom call with Santa purchased will be donated to the Children’s Hospice South West.

Advertisement

The UK isn’t the only country offering virtual Santa visits, though. A quick Google search reveals that there are a few other Santas and organizations offering online visits in the U.S. (As always, do your homework and ensure an organization or vendor is trustworthy before going on a video call with them or giving them your credit card information).

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

3 / 10

Apparently Santa Is Just as Cheery on Zoom

Apparently Santa Is Just as Cheery on Zoom

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

Although I joked at the beginning of this blog about Santa Claus on Zoom, it is not at all a bad idea. As we all just learned on Thanksgiving, celebrating holidays during the pandemic can be rough because it’s a lot different than what we’re used to. Many times, you can’t carry out your usual holiday activities or see loved ones. At Christmas time, we’ll probably experience the same thing, and children will most especially notice the difference.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

4 / 10

Seeing Santa in Person Is Probably Not Low-Risk

Seeing Santa in Person Is Probably Not Low-Risk

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released guidance for holiday celebrations and small gatherings aimed to reduce the spread of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The agency advises people to consider modifying their plans to stay healthy and safe. For Thanksgiving, it classified activities into low, moderate and high-risk categories. Low-risk activities included having a small dinner with people in your household or delivering traditional food to family and neighbors using zero contact methods. Meanwhile, high-risk activities included going shopping in crowded stores, attending crowded parades, or attending large indoor gatherings with people outside your household.

Advertisement

The agency has not released specific guidance for Christmas yet, but it stands to reason that standing in crowded lines in an indoor space, such as a mall, so children can meet and take a picture with Santa—which involves getting very close to another person outside your household—probably won’t be considered low-risk.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

5 / 10

Some Stores and Malls Are Canceling In-Person Santa Visits

Some Stores and Malls Are Canceling In-Person Santa Visits

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

Nonetheless, traditional meet and greets at other places have been affected by the virus, too. Macy’s, which has hosted Santa at its store in New York City for nearly 160 years, has scrapped in-person visits this year. Macy’s told the Associated Press that more than a quarter of a million people come to visit Santa at its store in New York every year, which makes it difficult to create a safe environment during the pandemic. In a normal year, crowds of people squeeze into tight spaces to visit Santaland, a sort of maze filled with Christmas trees, toy trains and elves, before taking a picture with Santa.

Advertisement

Instead, it will offer virtual visits through its “Macy’s Santaland at Home” experience, which will allow kids to take a tour of Santa’s workshop and take a selfie with him. Santaland will offer other activities, including helping the elves pack his sleigh, and is now live.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

6 / 10

But Not All Are Ready to Say Goodbye to In-Person Visits

But Not All Are Ready to Say Goodbye to In-Person Visits

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

Not all malls are saying no to in-person Santa visits, though. Ali Slocum, a spokeswoman for Simon Property Group, the biggest mall owner in the U.S., told USA Today that Santa would be available live.

Advertisement

“Santa is coming to a Simon shopping center near you,” Slocum said.

The AP reports that some big mall owners are also going ahead with in-person visits but will ban kids from sitting on Santa’s lap and make sure they stay six feet away from him.

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

7 / 10

This Situation Has Put Santa Performers in a Tight Spot

This Situation Has Put Santa Performers in a Tight Spot

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

The pandemic has put Santa performers in a tough situation. As USA Today reports, many Santas count on their end-of-year gigs to make extra cash, and in some cases, a big chunk of their annual income. Mitch Allen, founder of HireSanta.com, which manages a network of about 2,000 performers, told the outlet that a mall Santa with “a real beard, real belly, real laugh” can make between $5,000 and $10,000 working in November and December.

Advertisement

Michael Howe, who is a retired public school teacher and has portrayed Santa on and off for 27 years, said the privilege of playing Santa is more important this year because of the unrest in the country, as well as because of the economic and social challenges. For him, the income is “very needed” because he’s not on social security yet, according to USA Today. Yet, it’s still a tough call.

“I want to do personal visits,’’ Howe told the outlet, “but I also want to make sure that I’m safe.’’

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

8 / 10

Some Santas Fear for Their Safety at In-Person Meet and Greets

Some Santas Fear for Their Safety at In-Person Meet and Greets

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

Safety is something that other Santa performers have on their minds, according to Allen, from the HireSanta.com booking site. Allen told USA Today that many Santas have told him they don’t want to appear in person because their age and underlying health issues make them more vulnerable to the virus.

Advertisement

Howe, the Santa, told the outlet that he is already doing some virtual work. He’s created hundreds of videos for kids over the past few months in response to requests from parents on his Facebook page. In the videos, Santa tells the kids to wash their hands or even offers reassurance before big events. He also tells them the words we’re all wishing to hear.

“Everything is going to be OK,” Howe tells the children in the videos, per the outlet. “Eventually, we’ll get back to normal. And I can’t wait to see you.”

Advertisement
Previous Slide
Next Slide

9 / 10

It’s Christmas. It Doesn’t Matter Whether Your Santa Visit Is In Person or Online

It’s Christmas. It Doesn’t Matter Whether Your Santa Visit Is In Person or Online

Image for article titled Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom
Photo: Finnbarr Webster (Getty Images)

When the pandemic started, we were told that we would have to learn to live with the virus for a while until things got better. In fact, it’s probably because many people have resisted this advice, with behaviors such as not wearing masks or attending large gatherings, that the U.S. is in this mess. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have to be this way: We can still enjoy the holidays and be safe at the same time. So put your favorite Christmas outfit on, gather around the computer and say hello to Santa. After all, the most important thing during the holidays is to share a moment together. It doesn’t matter whether that moment is in person or online.

Advertisement