Santa goes online - 23rd December 2020

Santa: "What a surprise!"

Mum: "Say hello to Santa!"

Child: "Santa!"

Santa: "Hello!"

2020 is difficult for Santa Claus because of Covid-19. This year, pandemic rules have closed Santa's grottoes. Santa can't visit all his grottoes around the world. Children can't go to the grottoes to see him.

Luckily, Santa has some helpers. In London, Madeline and her husband Freddie got together with some actors. They have created an online Santa's grotto in their flat.

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's grotto is only open at weekends because they both work. But it has been very popular with families. There have been over 500 bookings.

Aaron Spendelow's job is acting. He plays the grotto's Santa.

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."

So, you can meet up with Santa this year, even if it is just online! And he'll still visit on Christmas Eve, so don't forget 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."