Santa Claus around the world - Chicago Sun-Times

From Chicago to Romania to Brazil, Santa has much to do throughout the holiday season, not just on Christmas Eve.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, prepares for his long Christmas journey from the Santa’s Village at the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland, on Friday.

Seems like there’s a Santa Claus, Father Christmas or Old St. Nicholas everywhere you look these days. (Or at least his “helpers” donning the red suit and white beard.)

Not surprising considering his “big day” is just around the corner.

Even in the shadow of a “Santa shortage” this year, the jolly person in the red-and-white suit is ever the globe-trotter, and has been sighted across the world, including right here in Chicago. From deep under the sea to high in the sky, on paddleboard and camelback, seems like Santa knows no bounds.

Here’s a look at some of the places Santa has popped up in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas Day 2022:

Palestinian Santa Claus Issa Kassissieh, gestures as he rides a camel on Dec. 22, 2022, near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, ahead of the upcoming holiday of Christmas. — Palestinian Santa Claus Issa Kassissieh gestures as he rides a camel Dec. 22 near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Dillon McGovern, garbed as a scuba diving Santa Claus, uses an underwater scooter to glide above the coral reef amid fish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, off Key Largo, Fla. — Dillon McGovern, garbed as a scuba-diving Santa Claus, uses an underwater scooter Thursday to glide above the coral reef amid fish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary just off Key Largo.

A zookeeper dressed as Santa Claus delivers gifts with food to the giraffes as part of a Christmas tradition at La Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City on Dec. 20, 2022. — A zookeeper dressed as Santa Claus delivers gifts with food to the giraffes Tuesday as part of a Christmas tradition at La Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City.

Rick Rzeszutko dressed as Santa Claus sits in a sleigh prop at 900 North Michigan Shops, last month. Rzeszutko has been portraying Santa Claus for over 30 years in the Chicago area. — Rick Rzeszutko, dressed as Santa Claus, sits in a sleigh prop at 900 North Michigan Shops in Chicago, last month. Rzeszutko has been portraying Santa Claus for over 30 years in the Chicago area.

Jorge Barroso, dressed as Santa Claus, rings his bell while standing on the stern of boat as he arrives to distribute gifts to children in the riverside communities of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. — Jorge Barroso, dressed as Santa Claus, rings his bell on the stern of boat as he arrives Dec. 17 to distribute gifts to children in the riverside communities of Manaus, Amazonas state, in Brazil.

Firefighters dressed as Santas dangle on ropes Thursday as they scale down the Athens’ main children’s hospital to deliver Christmas presents to young cancer patients spending the holidays in hospital, in Athens, Greece. — Firefighters dressed as Santas dangle on ropes as they scale down the Athens’ main children’s hospital to deliver Christmas presents to young cancer patients spending the holidays in hospital, in Athens, Greece, on Thursday.

A young visitor describes to Santa Claus what he hopes to get for Christmas at Altamonte Mall on Wednesday in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

A diver dressed in a Santa Claus costumes waves to young visitors at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium in Bangkok on Wednesday.

A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit exits a military medivac helicopter during an event organized for children of Romanian servicemen at the Baza 90 Air Force Base in Otopeni, Romania, on Wednesday.

Climbers dressed as Santa Claus climb the building of the pediatric clinic of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Dec. 19, 2022. — Climbers dressed as Santa Claus climb the building of the pediatric clinic of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Monday.

Guatemalan municipal firefighter Hector Chacon, dressed as Santa Claus, goes down a cable from a bridge to deliver presents to children in Guatemala City on Dec. 17, 2022. — Guatemalan municipal firefighter Hector Chacon, dressed as Santa Claus, goes down a cable from a bridge Dec. 17 to deliver presents to children in Guatemala City.

A woman dressed as Santa Claus steers a paddleboard close to the Mare e Sol beach in Pietrosella on Dec.20, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. — A woman dressed as Santa Claus steers a paddleboard carrying presents close to the Mare e Sol beach in Pietrosella Tuesday, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Members of the transit police disguised as Santa Claus patrol on their motorcycles in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, earlier this month. — In the spirit of the season, members of the transit police dressed as Santa Claus patrol on their motorcycles in Monterrey, state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, earlier this month.

People dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in the annual Christmas run in Michendorf, Germany, Dec. 4. — People dressed in Santa Claus — that is, St. Nikolaus — costumes take part in the annual Christmas run in Michendorf, Germany, Dec. 4.

Next Up In Entertainment

Horoscope for Friday, April 19, 2024

Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater

Ebertfest in Champaign a time for discovery and rediscovery

4/20 is Saturday: What you need to know for weed's 'high' holiday

Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist, dies at 80

Jun Mhoon, music producer and adolescent drummer for The Staple Singers, dies at 69

Here a Santa, there a Santa — Santa Claus seems to be everywhere these days.

From Chicago to Romania to Brazil, Santa has much to do throughout the holiday season, not just on Christmas Eve.