In Pictures: Santa Claus spreads Christmas cheer around the world

Santa makes appearances all over the world leading up to Christmas

Last updated: December 24, 2023 | 16:20

Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor and Reuters

2 MIN READ

1/23

A man dressed in Santa Claus costume talks to a child in front of a Christmas tree during its lighting ceremony in front of the Alexander Nevsky cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria.

2/23

Guatemalan firefighter Hector Chacon, dressed as Santa Claus, rappels down the Belize Bridge to give toys to children at the Jesus de la Buena Esperanza neighbourhood, in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

3/23

Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus, sits astride a camel as he visits an olive grove overlooking the Dome of the Rock on Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem.

4/23

People dressed as Santa Claus and an angel ride on sleds, during their annual meeting at the animal park Germendorf, in Oranienburg, Germany.

5/23

A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume swims with a school of fish to welcome the upcoming Christmas at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World aquarium in Bangkok, Thailand.

6/23

A diver dressed as Santa Claus feeds fish inside a fish tank at the Sea Life aquarium in Munich, Germany.

7/23

A diver dressed as Santa Claus feeds sharks and fishes inside a fish tank at the Malta National Aquarium, in Qawra, Malta.

8/23

A man dressed as Santa Claus gestures during the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, New York City, US.

9/23

A man and woman dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus pose for a photo aboard the "La Sabana" tourist train decorated with Christmas lights in Bogota, Colombia.

10/23

A man dressed as Santa Claus rides through the streets on behalf of Northwich Rotary Club, in Northwich, Britain.

11/23

Participants wearing Santa Claus outfits pose for photos before their event to hand out gifts and clean up the street to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season in Tokyo, Japan.

12/23

Students wait for gifts from an elephant dressed in a Santa Claus costume ahead of Christmas celebrations at a school, in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

13/23

Miguel Angel dressed as Santa Claus gives sweets to migrants walking in a caravan with the intention of turning themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

14/23

Councilman Edilson Santos, dressed as Santa Claus, drives the 'Bus Noel', a bus decorated by him and his family with Christmas ornaments, as children sing at Jardim Alzira Franco, in Santo Andre, Brazil.

15/23

A police officer from the traffic squad dressed as Santa Claus rides on a motorcycle through the streets of Lima, ahead of Christmas, in Lima, Peru.

16/23

A man dressed as Santa Claus holds a sign and walks among attendees ahead of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, US.

17/23

People dressed as Santa Claus row during a Christmas regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.

18/23

A man dressed as Santa Claus talks with a child at a Christmas village adorned with thousands of lights, in Beauvechain, Belgium.

19/23

A motorcyclist, Helton Garcia dressed as Santa Claus, rides his motorcycle before handing out gifts to children in a rural school in Santo Antonio do Descoberto, state of Goias, Brazil.

20/23

Runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in the annual 5 km Santa Dash in Liverpool, Britain.

21/23

A man dressed as Santa Claus looks on as a child leaves after posing for a photograph with him at the Sandton mall in Johannesburg, South Africa.

22/23

Revellers take part in SantaCon in New York City, New York, US.

23/23

A person dressed as Santa Claus runs through the streets during the annual Nikolaus Lauf (Saint Nicholas run), in Michendorf, Germany.

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