Christmas wishes from Santas around the world

Christmas wishes from Santas around the world

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A red suit with white trim and a silky beard have long been Santa's trademark style, but the jolly figure bringing holiday cheer around the world comes in many guises, much like the varied shapes and sizes of the Christmas presents he bears.

But one wish unites all Santas, from Lebanon to Nigeria, in this year decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Before & After

Before
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/Loren Elliott
After
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/Loren Elliott

Before: Levi-Malouf in their everyday clothing in Sydney, Australia.
After: Levi-Malouf dressed as a drag queen Santa.

"My Christmas message to the world is to be kinder to everyone in a time when we are so isolated," said Oliver Levi-Malouf, 22, who performs as a drag queen Santa at The Imperial Hotel in Sydney, with strikingly red lips and dramatic winged eye makeup.

. Sydney, AUSTRALIA. Reuters/Loren Elliott
Levi-Malouf dressed as a drag queen Santa.

Levi-Malouf puts on a Santa event for youth around Christmas time at the hotel, giving out colourful presents such as a feathered fascinator in the shape of a bird.

Before & After

Before
. New York, United States. Reuters/Caitlin Ochs
After
. New York, United States. Reuters/Caitlin Ochs

Before: Friedman in his everyday clothing in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
After: Friedman dressed as Santa Claus.

"Breathe, simply breathe," is the advice of Dana Friedman, who has been a Santa since wanting to hearten first responders and their families after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.

Friedman, 61, who is an attorney, urges people take time this year to appreciate the beauty and good in the world. "While you're at it, do something nice for a total stranger," he said. "But don't let them know you did it ... Let them pay it forward in their own way."

Before & After

Before
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
After
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Before: Paradise Yamamoto wearing his Mambo musician costume at his Gyoza dumplings restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.
After: Paradise Yamamoto wearing Santa Claus costume.

Japanese mambo musician Paradise Yamamoto has been a Santa for 23 years, and takes an annual certification test he says is no walk in the park. "I was tested on how quickly I ate ginger biscuits, climbed chimneys, and laughed merrily with a good 'Ho, ho, ho'," he said.

Yamamoto wants to reassure children that Santa is still coming to their houses this Christmas. "I've never heard of a Christmas where Santa Claus didn't appear," said the 58-year-old, who also owns a gyoza restaurant, where he works as a chef.

"I might try to get in your houses through a different route from usual, but I will most certainly visit everyone's homes – after, of course, washing my hands, gargling, disinfecting the soles of my shoes, and taking the proper measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

Before & After

Before
. Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters/Edgard Garrido
After
. Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters/Edgard Garrido

Before: Zelayaran in his everyday clothing on a street in Mexico City, Mexico.
After: Zelayaran dressed as Santa Claus.

Children excited to see Santa had better take note of the warning from Mexican actor and director of children's theatre Alejandro Zelayaran, though.

"I will not visit children who do not respect their mother and father, who have not taken care of themselves during COVID and who have pulled practical jokes on their teachers during virtual classes," he said.

. Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters/Edgard Garrido
Zelayaran wearing a protective face shield.

Zelayaran, who will don a face shield when he distributes dolls and other gifts at an orphanage in Mexico City, also emphasises the importance of family. "Faith and hope must move the hearts of humanity," said the 43-year-old.

"I want to see families taking care of each other and knowing that even from afar, love and hope always survive."

Before & After

Before
. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Reuters/Ricardo Moraes
After
. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

Before: Cherem in his everyday clothing at a studio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
After: Cherem dressed as Santa Claus.

Limachem Cherem, 64, who runs a school for Santas in Rio de Janeiro, will be spending more time in a studio this month, raising children' spirits with recorded messages and live video chats.

He, too, encourages people reach out to each other.

"Get on the phone, send messages, it doesn't cost much with the internet," said the jovial man with a big beard. "Since we can't hug in person, send a message of peace to a friend. He needs it, while he is at home."

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Melissa Freiha, 25, at her house in Mar Mikhael neighbourhood of Beirut, Lebanon, said: "This year, as our entire world is changing, the simple act of welcoming Santa into one's home is opening up and defying all the constraints that the pandemic has forced us to live in."
. Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters/Emma Freiha

Melissa Freiha, 25, at her house in Mar Mikhael neighbourhood of Beirut, Lebanon, said: "This year, as our entire world is changing, the simple act of welcoming Santa into one's home is opening up and defying all the constraints that the pandemic has forced us to live in."

Freiha in her Santa Claus costume.
. Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters/Emma Freiha

Freiha in her Santa Claus costume.

Freiha adjusts her beard.
. Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters/Emma Freiha

Freiha adjusts her beard.

A hand-sewn Christmas ornament of an angel, made by Melissa and her mother, that is to be distributed as a free gift.
. Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters/Emma Freiha

A hand-sewn Christmas ornament of an angel, made by Melissa and her mother, that is to be distributed as a free gift.

Kamal Krishna Bairagi, 41, at his home in Kolkata, India. "I wish to make the world war free, pollution free and epidemic free for our coming generations. No one should cheat each other, God is watching everything from above. I wish and pray to God to save the world from COVID-19 and my sincere wish to say bye-bye to the disease by the end of 2020," said Bairagi. "Politicians are on my naughty list and actors, like me who entertain people no matter what the situation is, are on my nice list."
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Kamal Krishna Bairagi, 41, at his home in Kolkata, India. "I wish to make the world war free, pollution free and epidemic free for our coming generations. No one should cheat each other, God is watching everything from above. I wish and pray to God to save the world from COVID-19 and my sincere wish to say bye-bye to the disease by the end of 2020," said Bairagi. "Politicians are on my naughty list and actors, like me who entertain people no matter what the situation is, are on my nice list."

Bairagi in his Santa Claus costume.
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Bairagi in his Santa Claus costume.

Bairagi in his Santa Claus costume.
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Bairagi in his Santa Claus costume.

A box of gifts that Bairagi will distribute amongst children.
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

A box of gifts that Bairagi will distribute amongst children.

Aquarium curator and manager Daniel de Castro, 45, at the Malta National Aquarium in Qawra, Malta. De Castro has been dressing up as a scuba-diving Father Christmas at aquariums in several countries for the past 20 years. "Stay safe, keep all measures in place and this will be over soon. Next year will be better. Don't rush this Christmas or you won't have any more Christmases after that," he said.
. Qawra, Malta. Reuters/Darrin Zammit Lupi

Aquarium curator and manager Daniel de Castro, 45, at the Malta National Aquarium in Qawra, Malta. De Castro has been dressing up as a scuba-diving Father Christmas at aquariums in several countries for the past 20 years. "Stay safe, keep all measures in place and this will be over soon. Next year will be better. Don't rush this Christmas or you won't have any more Christmases after that," he said.

Castro in his Father Christmas scuba gear in the main fish tank.
. Qawra, Malta. Reuters/Darrin Zammit Lupi

Castro in his Father Christmas scuba gear in the main fish tank.

Castro holds a tub of food before feeding it to fish and sharks.
. Qawra, Malta. Reuters/Darrin Zammit Lupi

Castro holds a tub of food before feeding it to fish and sharks.

A Father Christmas hat belonging Castro rests on top of scuba diving equipment.
. Qawra, Malta. Reuters/Darrin Zammit Lupi

A Father Christmas hat belonging Castro rests on top of scuba diving equipment.

Daniel Edidiong, 36, Santa Claus for Independent Television in Abuja, Nigeria, said: "I normally use gloves as Father Christmas, but this year due to COVID-19, I am using rubber gloves and each time I hand over gifts to children, I will sanitise my hands."
. Abuja, Nigeria. Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde

Daniel Edidiong, 36, Santa Claus for Independent Television in Abuja, Nigeria, said: "I normally use gloves as Father Christmas, but this year due to COVID-19, I am using rubber gloves and each time I hand over gifts to children, I will sanitise my hands."

Edidiong in his Santa Claus costume.
. Abuja, Nigeria. Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde

Edidiong in his Santa Claus costume.

Edidiong in his Santa Claus costume.
. Abuja, Nigeria. Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde

Edidiong in his Santa Claus costume.

A present given out by Edidiong is pictured after a visit to ITV television station.
. Abuja, Nigeria. Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde

A present given out by Edidiong is pictured after a visit to ITV television station.

Dmitry Slektor, 71, a pensioner who worked as a mechanic at a glass factory, at his apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan, said: "Let all wars end next year and stability will come and the coronavirus pandemic will end."
. Almaty, Kazakhstan. Pavel Mikheyev

Dmitry Slektor, 71, a pensioner who worked as a mechanic at a glass factory, at his apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan, said: "Let all wars end next year and stability will come and the coronavirus pandemic will end."

Slektor in his Santa Claus costume.
. Almaty, Kazakhstan. Reuters/Pavel Mikheyev

Slektor in his Santa Claus costume.

Slektor in his Santa Claus costume.
. Almaty, Kazakhstan. Reuters/Pavel Mikheyev

Slektor in his Santa Claus costume.

A Christmas toy belonging to Slektor.
. Almaty, Kazakhstan. Reuters/Pavel Mikheyev

A Christmas toy belonging to Slektor.

Frederik Tholey of Weihnachstmann2Go in his living room in Berlin, Germany. "If it ever happens that children show up on my naughty list which is not very often the case, it's because they try to pull my beard, don't believe in me, and, this year in particular, if they don't wash their hands."
. Berlin, Germany. Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

Frederik Tholey of Weihnachstmann2Go in his living room in Berlin, Germany. "If it ever happens that children show up on my naughty list which is not very often the case, it's because they try to pull my beard, don't believe in me, and, this year in particular, if they don't wash their hands."

Tholey in his Santa Claus costume.
. Berlin, Germany. Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

Tholey in his Santa Claus costume.

Tholey holds a book.
. Berlin, Germany. Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

Tholey holds a book.

A Christmas decoration belonging to Tholey.
. Berlin, Germany. Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

A Christmas decoration belonging to Tholey.

Paul Dean, 35, a personal trainer from Northwich, stands next to his bike that he uses to deliver Christmas presents to local villages in Davenham, Britain. "There's no one on my naughty list this year, it's been a terribly hard year for many people, so to get everyone in the Christmas spirit they have all made it onto my nice list!" said Dean. "I especially hope to bring joy to all the key workers who have been working throughout this difficult time, they deserve to have an extra special Christmas."
. Molly Darlington

Paul Dean, 35, a personal trainer from Northwich, stands next to his bike that he uses to deliver Christmas presents to local villages in Davenham, Britain. "There's no one on my naughty list this year, it's been a terribly hard year for many people, so to get everyone in the Christmas spirit they have all made it onto my nice list!" said Dean. "I especially hope to bring joy to all the key workers who have been working throughout this difficult time, they deserve to have an extra special Christmas."

Dean in his Santa Claus costume.
. Davenham, United Kingdom. Reuters/Molly Darlington

Dean in his Santa Claus costume.

Details on Dean's coat.
. Molly Darlington

Details on Dean's coat.

A Christmas present that will be delivered by Dean.
. Molly Darlington

A Christmas present that will be delivered by Dean.