Santa goes online - 23rd December 2020

Santa: "What a surprise."

Mum: "Say hello to Santa."

Child: "Santa."

Santa: "Hello."

Children usually visit Santa Claus in his grotto. Normally, Santa Claus has grottoes all around the world. This year, there is coronavirus. Santa can't come to his grottoes.

In London, Madeline and Freddie are helping Santa. They made a Santa's Grotto in their flat. Children can visit the grotto online.

Madeleine: "We wanted this to be a really high-quality experience, using the best, sort of, actors and performing arts supporters, using the best set that we could and the best technology to make sure that this experience was absolutely as magical as it could be."

Madeline and Freddie have jobs. They can only help Santa at the weekend. But families love the online grotto. It is very popular.

Aaron Spendelow is an actor. He is Santa at the grotto.

Aaron: "On these calls, we have a game, we have a song, we sometimes have a story, we have some jokes. Like, there's a lot of interactivity that come with it and it brings a lot of joy and happiness, and I think that's what we all need."

This year, you can see Santa. But his grotto is online. Santa will come on Christmas Eve. Remember the milk and cookies.

Santa: "And what drink would you leave me?

Children: "What do you like?"

Santa: "I would like a glass of milk, please."