Meet 'Santa Harabeoji' in Video... Christmas Scenes Changed by COVID-19

Professional Santas Utilize Video Chat and Augmented Reality (AR) Technology
"Advantageous for Meeting Children Difficult to Reach in Hospitals and Other Places"

A man dressed as Santa Claus is meeting with children through the video conferencing platform 'Zoom'.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] This Christmas, instead of children pretending to sleep with half-open eyes waiting for Santa Claus, they met him through their phones or monitors. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Santas are planning to use digital technology instead of face-to-face contact to give children a special Christmas gift.

According to the British daily The Guardian on the 22nd (local time), professional Santas worldwide have planned to meet children through video chats or augmented reality (AR) technology this year. As COVID-19 rapidly spread and social distancing measures were strengthened, opportunities to meet and talk with Santas at religious organizations, department stores, and various events disappeared.

Most professional Santas belonging to the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas (IBRBS), a nonprofit organization with about 2,000 members, prepared for the Christmas season this year through the video chat platform Zoom. Rick Irwin, chairman of the IBRBS board, stated, “Since last March, we have advised members to cancel direct meetings with children and follow guidelines created during the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak.”

There are also companies generating revenue by offering non-face-to-face meetings with Santa. ‘WelcomeSanta,’ which provides a service to talk with Santa via video, saw a 75% increase in usage this year compared to the previous year. For $25 (about 28,000 KRW), users can talk with Santa for 5 to 8 minutes. A professional Santa from WelcomeSanta explained, “I felt that physical intimacy with children would be lacking in non-face-to-face meetings,” adding, “I compensated for this limitation by receiving information in advance from parents about what gifts the children wanted.”

Latest technologies such as AR were also utilized. Macy’s department store in Herald Square, New York, allowed website visitors to take family photos with a digitally appearing Santa. Additionally, the EnchantSantaCalls app on the Apple App Store enables parents to transform into a 3D Santa during video chats with their children.

Steven Arnold, president of IBRBS and a professional Santa for decades, also decided to sit in front of a video camera this year. While he was accustomed to wearing a Santa suit and talking with children at department stores and shopping malls in previous years, he accepted the reality of COVID-19. He said, “I know children find COVID-19 stories boring,” adding, “Nevertheless, I had to tell them that Santa is staying safe and will still visit homes through chimneys this year.” Arnold added, “Although it’s a different way than before, people will always remember their meetings with Santa, even if it’s like this.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.