Santa Claus speaks with visitors through a plexiglass screen as a protection against the coronavirus at his office at Santa Claus Village in the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland on December 18. Photo: AFP

After a "dark year," Britain's Santas are raring to meet children at live events once again this Christmas and even their reindeer are fully jabbed, a lineup of the white-bearded performers said on Tuesday. 

Due to coronavirus restrictions, many traditional grottoes in large stores and shopping malls and children's parties were closed in 2020, forcing Santas to listen to Christmas gift wish lists online.

In 2021, despite growing concerns over the new Omicron virus variant, imitators of the jolly festive present-giver working for a specialized London agency were upbeat and hopeful that in-person events will go ahead as planned.

"It's going to be the best Christmas ever, ho ho ho!" exclaimed one Santa in full costume attending a training session at Ministry of Fun, an agency that provides the festive entertainers for grottoes, photo shoots and video calls.

This Christmas "will be very different, especially after the dark year we've had," said another performer, who gave his name as Santa Kev.

In 2020, the Santas were hard-hit by lockdown measures, including just before Christmas as cases of the Delta variant soared.

2021 will be a "world of difference," since "we're back again with more live events," said another of the entertainers, who gave his name simply as Santa.

At the same time, "the world has changed since last year, and we will be foolish to ignore those changes," he said. 

"After all, we've only just been informed of yet another variant," he added, referring to the heavily mutated Omicron.

In 2021, "Christmas is well and truly on," Ministry of Fun director Matt Grist insisted.

"The demand for Christmas activities and to meet you wonderful Santas is greater than it's ever been," he told the group of performers, including seasoned Santas as well as novices, from backgrounds such as acting and teaching.

Demand for Santas is up around 20 percent on 2019 pre-pandemic figures, Grist said, taking into account live appearances at grottoes, photo shoots and department stores, as well as an online service set up in 2020.

With the spread of the Omicron variant prompting fresh restrictions in England, including compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, "the worldwide challenge with COVID[-19] is not over by any means," Grist said.

Santas are equipped with red masks and grottoes allow for social distancing, agency staff said. 

AFP