Mira Sorvino, the acclaimed actress and Oscar winner, celebrated the holiday season by dressing as a beautiful Santa Claus and sharing festive moments with her family, including her lookalike daughter. She also made her Broadway debut in 'Chicago,' fulfilling a childhood dream, and continues to be a beloved figure in pop culture.
The demand for Santa Claus performers has decreased due to economic slowdown and structural changes like fewer malls and increased online shopping, leading to softer demand and more available Santas, despite a potential demographic shift that could benefit seasonal Santa jobs. The overall labor market challenges are affecting even iconic seasonal roles, with hiring for Santas down nearly 30% compared to previous years.
Macy's in San Francisco has ended its nearly 80-year tradition of having Santa Claus at its Union Square store, with Santa now embarking on a national tour after the Thanksgiving Day Parade, leaving a gap in the local holiday festivities.
Christmas has evolved from a Christian religious holiday into a widely celebrated cultural event worldwide, incorporating various traditions such as gift exchanges, decorating trees, and unique customs like eating Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan, with origins rooted in Christian history and influenced by cultural adaptations.
"Red One," starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, is a $250 million action-fantasy-comedy about a plot to kidnap Santa Claus. Despite its high-concept premise and star-studded cast, including Lucy Liu and J.K. Simmons, the film is criticized for lacking heart and humor, relying heavily on CGI, and being overly long and artificial. The movie follows Johnson and Evans as they team up to rescue Santa, but ultimately, it fails to deliver the magic and charm expected from a holiday film.
Adam Driver used his Saturday Night Live monologue to deliver his Christmas list to Santa Claus, asking for five pairs of chinos, a gingerbread house, and a wish to eliminate couples who do pranks on TikTok. Driver humorously signed off, expressing anticipation for Santa breaking into his house.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attended the "Together at Christmas" carol concert at Westminster Abbey with their parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William. The children excitedly dropped off letters for Santa Claus in a red post office box at the event. Despite recent royal scandal, Middleton has made carefree appearances and has not addressed the drama.
Airbnb is offering one lucky family the opportunity to stay in Santa Claus' cabin in Rovaniemi, Finland, for three nights. The family will have the chance to volunteer at Santa's post office and experience the magic of Christmas in a winter wonderland. The stay includes traditional Lapland decorations, Finnish meals, and elf clothing. The family can also participate in snowmobile excursions, northern lights sightings, and traditional saunas. The experience is free and may include complimentary flights, and booking starts on December 11.
The classic Finnish holiday horror film, Rare Exports, directed by Jalmari Helander, is now available for streaming on SCREAMBOX. The movie takes viewers on a journey to the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, where the real Santa Claus is discovered. However, this Santa is not the jolly figure we know, and when local children start disappearing, a young boy and his father capture Santa and attempt to sell him to a multinational corporation. Chaos ensues as Santa's elves try to free their leader. Rare Exports is part of SCREAMBOX's Yuletide Fear collection, which includes other Christmas-themed horror movies.
NYC's Pier 17 has been transformed into an immersive winter wonderland inspired by Disney's "The Santa Clauses." The rooftop venue features a skating rink, cozy dining cabins, a wintry walk-through experience, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. The event promises to be "bigger and better" this year and will run until January 7, 2024. Tickets start at $25/person, with a free general admission day on November 28.
On October 22, 2020, Macy's announced that Santa Claus would not be making in-store appearances at their department stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking a tradition that had been in place since 1861. Instead, Macy's offered a virtual experience where families could interact with Santa online. Other retailers also adopted virtual Santa experiences in 2020. However, in 2021, Macy's brought back in-person visits with Santa Claus in select cities, implementing COVID-19 safety measures such as masking and advanced reservations.