This year, however, he’s sitting behind a computer screen in Westminster, Colorado, where he lives – in his glorious red and white outfit and sensational beard – waiting for his next “Meet With Santa” Zoom session to begin.
“It keeps the magic going,” Carmody told CNN. “Santa is a magical, magical character and he’s built around magic. It’s up to us as Santa Clauses to recreate that magic without that physical touch. So yeah, we’re thinking outside the box this year.”
Unlike previous years where they took children on their lap, listened to them rattling off their wish lists and posed for photos, Santa Clauses had to keep a safe distance from children to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
It has not been easy.
‘Is meeting them at Zoom the same as holding a child on your lap? No, ”said Carmody. “The personal touch is sorely missed by the children and Santa Claus.”
“There is a connection when you have that touch, but you can create it virtually when you think about it from a child’s perspective,” he added. “And it is necessary because a lot of Santa Clauses are very vulnerable to the virus and they want to live. We want to protect ourselves, but we also want to protect these children and bring them that special bond.”
All over the country, they are finding innovative ways to wish children and adults a very Merry Christmas.
Create Christmas magic
When it became clear that the pandemic wouldn’t end before Christmas, Carmody began brainstorming ways to bring Santa to life without breaking social distance guidelines.
In the schools where he works, he sat behind a barrier, where he could safely wave to children when they passed by. But Carmody says it wasn’t enough. He could see how badly the children wanted to hug him.
To restore the intimate bond, Carmody started holding virtual meetings at Zoom, where he talks to children and their parents. They contain the typical chatter, “Have you been a good boy or a good girl?” and “What do you want Santa to bring you?”
But Carmody says children have also voiced concerns about the pandemic. He says he is doing his best to ease their fears.
Carmody has also started a new Christmas tradition in Westminster.
Every week, he puts on a giant sleigh – complete with presents and stockings and reindeer – that his wife pulls with her car.
Children and their parents stand outside their homes and wave as he makes his way through the Denver suburb, delighting families with his radiant smile and cheerful laugh.
“I’ve received so many messages from families saying that the children are depressed and how terribly sad they are,” said Carmody. As Santa Claus, it’s an opportunity to step in and bring some joy. Not only for the children, but also for their parents. ‘
Helping parents feel joy
Roger Minton, a Santa from Fowlerville, Michigan, says parents are his priority.
He believes this year has been particularly stressful for adults. Many, he emphasizes, have had to strike a balance between the safety and protection of their families, the homeschooling of their children and their concerns about job security.
“The excitement in the adult voices when they see Santa and talk to him is really why I do it,” said Minton. “To bring a sense of joy. It allows them to forget about their stress for a while and have fun, just be a kid, because at the end of the day we are all kids at heart.”
Every other year, he and his wife, Erica, would dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and spend the holidays making crafts, decorating cookies, and posing for family photos. But with the pandemic, they too have put their festivities online.
They use video chat to check in with families – not just to hear wish lists, but to encourage parents to stand firm despite so much uncertainty. The Mintons say the experience is even more rewarding than previous years.
“We think this year will have more impact than normal years,” Minton said. “Getting a parent to say, ‘Thanks for bringing us some normalcy,’ that’s pretty cool. It’s all about the emotional connection, letting families and their kids know it’s okay, Santa is still here. It means a lot to us. “
Encourage families to stay safe
Larry Jefferson, the first African American to play Santa on Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, has used his position to spread the Christmas cheer. But he is also informing families about the pandemic.
At the beginning of the season, he organized personal visits to the shopping center. However, the protocols were different from previous years.
Jefferson greeted families from behind a plexiglass window in his Christmas cabin. Visitors had to have their hands “Santa Clauses” and their temperature checked. And everyone over 5 years old had to wear a face mask at all times except during the photo shoot. Only Santa Claus remained exposed.
While the changes may seem daunting, Jefferson, who has been playing Santa for 21 years, says they provide an opportunity to educate and encourage children to stay safe.
‘Children listen to Santa. The parents know, we all know, ”Jefferson said. “The kids are very aware of the virus these days, so the last thing I always ask them is, ‘Do you wash your hands for 20 seconds every day? Do you wear your mask when you go out?’ And they say ‘yes’. Even the 2 year olds say ‘yes’. ”
State restrictions halted personal visits on Nov. 21, forcing visits online. But Jefferson is determined not to let Christmas go to waste.
“We Americans need to learn how to adapt and overcome. Yes, it feels different, very different, but it’s still Christmas and it’s still fun,” Jefferson said. “I love kids and their little hugs and high-fives, but these kids know what’s happening with the pandemic.
Carmody, Minton and Jefferson are just three of the thousands of Santa Clauses spreading joy this year. But like any great Santa, they won’t let anything dampen the holiday spirit – not Scrooge, not the Grinch, and certainly not a pandemic.
“The events of 2020 have tried to steal the spirit of Christmas, love, hope and joy,” said Carmody. “And it failed.”