Santa Claus around the world

Spectators dressed as Santa Claus watch the cricket on the hill during day five of the First Test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval on December 13, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Santa Claus helps families choose their own trees at Sydney Christmas Tree Farm at Duffy’s Forest on December 13, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. People avidly select their chosen tree from over 4,000 available before cutting it down and transporting it back to their home in time for Christmas festivities. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Santa Claus poses for a photograph in Calle Preciados on December 19, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. Shoppers took to the streets in the Spanish capital ahead of the annual Christmas festivities. (Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

People wear Santa Claus costumes as they take part in a Santa Claus themed race in downtown Milan on December 13, 2014. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images)

Santas and Helpers take selfies in Times Square as hundreds of Santas gather for the annual Santacon festivities on December 13, 2014 in New York. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

Santa holds a news conference in Times Square as hundreds of Santas gather for the annual Santacon festivities on December 13, 2014 in New York. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

A man wearing a Santa Claus costume gestures as employees of the SPR, a protection service against radiation at the CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) nuclear site in Cadarache, southern France, block the access to the plant, during a demonstration on December 15, 2014 to protest against a reorganization plan. (Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images)

A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume feeds a sunfish to attract visitors at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on December 17, 2014. Christmas attractions will be held till Christmas Day. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)

A white beluga wears a Santa hat to attract visitors at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on December 17, 2014. Christmas attractions will be held till Christmas Day. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images)

Prince Albert II of Monaco waves next to a man wearing a Santa Claus costume during the Children's Christmas ceremony on December 17, 2014 at the Monaco Palace. (Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)

French judo world champion and godfather of the foundation “Imagine” Teddy Riner dressed like Santa Claus meets with children in Paris on December 17, 2014. The “Imagine” foundation supports children with genetic diseases. (Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images)

A diver dress in a pink Santa suit feeds fish at a celebration of the naming of a baby pink dolphin at Underwater World Singapore (UWS) on December 18, 2014. The first male baby pink dolphin was born at Underwater World Singapore (UWS) in Sentosa resort island on July 15 and has been named Splish. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Santa Claus lights candles at a church in Bucharest, Romania on December 18, 2014. (Alex Nicodim/AFP/Getty Images)

A man disguised as Santa Claus waves to people after getting his fake beard stuck on the pulley after sliding down, at Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 18, 2014. (Yasu Yoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

Dancers clad in Santa Claus outfits perform as part of a flash mob event to entertain Christmas shoppers at Tobu Department Store in Tokyo on December 19, 2014. Some 30 dancers took part in the event. (Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images)

This picture taken on December 18, 2014 shows employees wearing Christmas costumes on a free-fall ride at a theme park in Changsha, central China’s Hunan province. The park organized a series of Santa Claus-themed events ahead of Christmas. (AFP/Getty Images)

A young Indian hawker, selling Santa Claus hats and masks at a traffic junction, takes a break from work in Bangalore on December 19, 2014. Despite Christians forming a little over two percent of the billion plus population in India, with Hindus comprising the majority, Christmas is celebrated with fanfare and zeal throughout the country. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images)

A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume poses with Royal Penguins at the Marineland animal exhibition park in the French Riviera city of Antibes, southeastern France, on December 19, 2014. (Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)

An Indian artist gives finishing touches to a Christmas-themed glass painting on the window of a showroom of electronics giant Sony in Mumbai on December 18, 2014. Even though Christians account for just over 2 percent of the billion plus strong Indian population Christmas is celebrated with great fervor in the country. Shopkeepers and entrepreneurs decorate their outlets in festive themes and offer special discounts to woo customers. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)

A Palestinian man, wearing a Santa Claus costume and waving the national flag, is confronted by Israeli soldiers during a weekly demonstration on December 19, 2014 against Israel’s controversial separation barrier, in the village of Maasarah, near the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem. (Musa Al-Shaer/AFP/Getty Images)

A man dressed up as Santa Claus bungee jumping at a theme park in Changsha, central China’s Hunan province. The park organized a series of Santa Claus-themed events ahead of Christmas. (AFP/Getty Images)

A girl kisses a Santa Claus at the Intercontinental hotel of Beijing, on December,19, 2014. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)

A Santa Claus salutes a girl at the Intercontinental hotel of Beijing, on December,19, 2014. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)

Freddie Chavez ‘dies-in’ as Santa Claus beside Marcus Macon as the men join a small group of protesters at the corner of Broadway and Market Street on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. Protesters presented a holiday satire, marching against police brutality in downtown St. Louis. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS)

Congressman David Cortez, dressed as Santa Claus, waves at the entrance of the national congress building in La Paz December 18, 2014. Every year Cortez dresses as Santa Claus as he participates in a congress session to wish his colleagues a merry Christmas, reported local media. (David Mercado/Reuters)

Carlos Bahia, dressed as Santa Claus, jokes with a child as they surf at the Maresias beach, in the state of Sao Paulo December 9, 2014. In the Southern Hemisphere summer starts on December 1, so while countries in the north are experiencing a white Christmas with grey skies, those in the south are busy surfing and sunbathing in temperatures just shy of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Picture taken December 9, 2014. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Carlos Bahia, dressed as Santa Claus, poses with his board at the Maresias beach, in the state of Sao Paulo December 9, 2014. In the Southern Hemisphere summer starts on December 1, so while countries in the north are experiencing a white Christmas with grey skies, those in the south are busy surfing and sunbathing in temperatures just shy of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Picture taken December 9, 2014. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus talks to a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Institute in Sao Paulo December 19, 2014. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus dances while listening to music on headphones borrowed from a cancer patient (L) undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Institute in Sao Paulo December 19, 2014. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

Women dressed as mermaids wearing a Santa Claus hat perform to students from inside a tank at the Sao Paulo Aquarium December 17, 2014. According to organizers, the performance aims to narrate about the myth and legend of mermaids. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

Staff dressed as Santa Claus try to squeeze into a car at a theme park in Changsha, December 18, 2014. Nineteen staff managed to get inside the car during the game. Picture taken December 18, 2014. (China Daily/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus is pictured in a shopping mall decorated with Christmas lights in Berlin, December 19, 2014. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

A man dressed as a Santa Claus poses on the roof of the Kollhoff Tower at Potsdamer Platz square in Berlin, December 14, 2014. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

A Palestinian hairstylist wearing a Santa Claus hat straightens the hair of a customer in a salon at Jerusalem’s Old City December 19, 2014. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Jumia delivery men dressed as Santa Claus drive their motorcycles to deliver goods to customers in Abidjan December 18, 2014. Jumia is an African online retailer which offers goods ranging from electronics to kids’ items. (Luc Gnago/Reuters)

People wearing Santa Claus outfits attend a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Jerusalem’s Old City December 19, 2014. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

An orangutan dressed in a Santa Claus outfit takes part during the Animal Christmas party at Malabon Zoo in Manila December 18, 2014. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)

A man dressed as Father Frost, the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, walks with Knopka, a Cameroon dwarf goat, through the “Dinosaurs Park”, located in the Taiga area at the Royev Ruchey zoo in the suburbs of Russia’s Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 16, 2014. Picture taken December 16, 2014. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

A member of the special police forces dressed in a Santa Claus suit, waves to patients and staff as he descends from the roof of a pediatrics clinic in Ljubljana December 16, 2014. (Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters)

Women dressed as mermaids wearing Santa Claus caps perform next to a Pacu fish inside a tank at the Sao Paulo Aquarium December 17, 2014. According to organizers, the performance aims to narrate about the myth and legend of mermaids. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

A woman gestures as she blocks a drunken reveler from police while taking part in SantaCon through Midtown Manhattan, New York December 13, 2014. Waves of revelers dressed in Santa Claus outfits invaded Midtown Manhattan on Saturday as part of New York’s version of SantaCon, a massive pub crawl that organizers scaled back this year in part to prevent conflicts with a nearby protest march. The loosely organized event, which moves every year to a different neighborhood of the city, has become notorious for leading to public drunkenness and rowdy behavior by some of its participants. (Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters)

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” during her annual visit at the Children’s National Health System in Washington December 15, 2014. Patients Aaron Kirby (C) and Kyra DeStefano (2nd R) listen with Santa Claus. (Gary Cameron/Reuters)

Donald Boyce, dressed up like Santa Claus, waves to surfers as he goes outrigger canoe surfing off Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii December 13, 2014. (Hugh Gentry/Reuters)

A dog named Maggie watches runners participate in the “Running of the Santas” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 13, 2014. The annual pub crawl event started in 1998. (Mark Makela/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus joins protesters in a march against police violence, in Midtown Manhattan, New York December 13, 2014. Thousands marched in Washington, New York and Boston on Saturday to protest killings of unarmed black men by police officers. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

The New England Patriots mascot “Pat Patriot” dresses as Santa Claus prior to game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. (Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports)

A man, dressed as Santa Claus, waits to board a train at a subway station as part of a promotional event by a bank in Sao Paulo. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

A man, dressed as Santa Claus, rides a subway train as part of a promotional event by a bank in Sao Paulo. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

A Zombie Santa is pictured Death Yard Haunted Attraction in Hendersonville, Tennessee December 10, 2014. The Nashville-area haunted house is getting into the Christmas spirit this weekend, with Zombie Santa, his undead elves and a demonic reindeer going on the attack for fun and charity. Picture taken with slow shutter speed and panning motion. (Harrison McClary/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus gestures next to the Christmas lights on December 9, 2014 in Medellin, Antioquia department, Colombia. (Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images)

People dressed as Father Frost, the equivalent of Santa Claus, and Snow Maiden take part in the contest “Yolka-fest-2014” (Fir-festival-2014) in Minsk December 12, 2014. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A man disguised as Santa Claus stands on a street after heavy rains at Itaquera neighborhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 10, 2014. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)

A worker holding a newly made Santa Claus model is surrounded by students in Yiwu, Zhejiang province December 4, 2014. (China Daily/Reuters)

Josh Risher surprises his daughters, Christy Risher, 8, and Kaylee Risher, 6, by masquerading as Santa Claus in a school musical on Dec. 10, 2014 at Windsor Elementary School in Columbia, S.C. Risher had been deployed with the army for a year in South Korea. (Tracy Glantz/The State/TNS)

3rd placed Austria’s Eva-Maria Brem (R) poses with a man dressed as Santa after the FIS Ski World Cup women’s giant slalom in Are, Sweden, on December 12, 2014. A Man dressed as Santa Claus posed in the foreground. (Marcus Ericsson/AFP/Getty Images)

Skiers and snowboarders dressed as Santa Claus participate in a charity run down a slope at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine December 7, 2014. Organizers say 250 skiing Santas raised $2700 for charity at the event. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Skiers and snowboarders dressed as Santa Claus are reflected in a skier’s goggles before participating in a charity run down a slope at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine December 7, 2014. Organizers say 250 skiing Santas raised $2700 for charity at the event. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Skiers and snowboarders dressed as Santa Claus ride the chair lift to participate in a charity run down a slope at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine December 7, 2014. Organizers say 250 skiing Santas raised $2700 for charity at the event. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

A diver wearing a Santa Claus outfit swims as a child (bottom) watches during an event at Lotte Aquarium in Seoul on December 8, 2014. The aquarium runs the Christmas event until December 25. (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images)

Sydneysiders run along the Darling Harbor boardwalk during the 2014 Variety Santa Fun Run on December 7, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Variety is the children’s charity committed to help Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Runners wearing Santa Claus costumes take the start at the ‘Santa Claus Run’ in downtown Budapest on December 6, 2014. About 3000 runners took part in this year’s run. (Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images)

Vitor Martins displays one of his Christmas tattoos inside his house, before a performance with children in Sao Caetano do Sul’s town square, near Sao Paulo, December 7, 2014. Martins has dressed as Santa Claus, working at shopping centers and various events, for fifteen years, and has 94 percent of his body covered in tattoos, with several in reference to Christmas. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Vitor Martins poses as he puts on his Santa outfit inside his house, before a performance with children in Sao Caetano do Sul’s town square, near Sao Paulo, December 7, 2014. Martins has dressed as Santa Claus, working at shopping centers and various events, for fifteen years, and has 94 percent of his body covered in tattoos, with several in reference to Christmas. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus waves in front of an illuminated Christmas tree in Bogota on Little Candles’ Day December 7, 2014. The traditional holiday, celebrated on December 7 in Colombia, marks the unofficial start of Christmas in the country. (John Vizcaino/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus poses during a base flying event in downtown in Berlin December 6, 2014. Participants of the event hosted by entertainment agency Jochen Schweizer flew down 98 meters (322 ft.) from atop the hotel in the German capital. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

A man dressed as Father Christmas rides a bicycle during the Nikolaus Lauf (Santa Claus Run) in the east German town of Michendorf, southwest of Berlin December 7, 2014. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

A diver dressed as Santa Claus feeds fishes inside a fish tank at the Sea Life aquarium in Berlin December 2, 2014. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

Runners dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in the ‘Santa Claus Run’ in Budapest, December 6, 2014. Around 3,000 runners took part this year. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

A man dressed like Santa Claus waves as he takes part in a parade during the annual illumination of Christmas lights in Warsaw December 6, 2014. (Bartosz Bobkowski/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters)

A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume swims after feeding fish inside an oceanarium in Manila December 2, 2014. Filipinos are known for celebrating Christmas the longest by playing yuletide songs on local radio stations and at malls as early as November until the observance of the Three Kings on the 1st week of January. (Romeo Ranoco/Reuters)

Two fans of Koeln wear Santa Claus dresses during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Koeln and FC Augsburg at RheinEnergieStadion on December 6, 2014 in Cologne, Germany. (Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Men dressed as Santa Claus stand together during a Santa Claus meeting in Cologne, western Germany, on November 30, 2014. Around 70 participants came to the event. (Oliver Berg/AFP/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Sinterklaas aka Saint Nicholas (R) visits the Amsterdam Stock Exchange to beat the gong, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on December 5, 2014. (Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners wearing Santa Claus costumes take part in the first Athens ‘Santa Claus Run’ in city’s center on December 7, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

A dog with a Santa Claus hat takes part in the first Athens ‘Santa Claus Run’ in city’s center on December 7, 2014 . (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners wearing Santa Claus costumes take part in the first Athens ‘Santa Claus Run’ in city’s center on December 7, 2014 . AFP (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Santa Claus (C) from Finland poses with children as part of his visit to the Hinomoto nursery school in Tokyo on December 1, 2014. The Santa is here as a goodwill ambassador of Finnair until December 24. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)

A keeper dressed as Santa Claus waves from an aquarium on December 4, 2014 in Tonning, Germany. (Carsten Rehder/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in the annual five kilometer Santa Dash in Liverpool, north-west England, on December 7, 2014. Organizers were hoping to attract more than10,000 runners for the 10th annual race. Many runners wear a blue suit, usually supporters of Everton football club, who refuse to run in red and white, the colors of their city rivals Liverpool FC. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in the annual five kilometer Santa Dash in Liverpool, north-west England, on December 7, 2014. Organizers were hoping to attract more than 10,000 runners for the 10th annual race. Many runners wear a blue suit, usually supporters of Everton football club, who refuse to run in red and white, the colors of their city rivals Liverpool FC. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners make their way to the start dressed in Father Christmas costumes to take part in the annual five kilometer Santa Dash in Liverpool, north-west England, on December 7, 2014. Organizers were hoping to attract more than 10,000 runners for the 10th annual race. Many runners wear a blue suit, usually supporters of Everton football club, who refuse to run in red and white, the colors of their city rivals Liverpool FC. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Runners in Father Christmas suits pose for a ‘selfie’ photo after completing an annual Santa fun run from Darling Harbor to the Sydney Opera House, December 7, 2014. The annual event is held each year as a fundraiser to assist disadvantaged children with equipment and programs to help them live a fuller life. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Thousands of runners in Father Christmas suits pose for a group photo after completing an annual Santa fun run from Darling Harbor to the Sydney Opera House, December 7, 2014. The annual event is held each year as a fundraiser to assist disadvantaged children with equipment and programs to help them live a fuller life. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

A Santa ‘elf’ congratulates a runner across the finish line after completing the annual Santa fun run from Darling Harbor to the Sydney Opera House, December 7, 2014. The annual event is held each year as a fundraiser to assist disadvantaged children with equipment and programs to help them live a fuller life. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Participants dressed in Santa costumes sing during the annual SantaCon event in London December 6, 2014. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

Participants dressed in Santa costumes pose for a photograph during the annual SantaCon event in London December 6, 2014. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

Competitors dressed as Santa Claus sprint past spectators during an annual charity Santa fun run in Loughborough, central England December 7, 2014. (Darren Staples/Reuters)

Runners dressed as Father Christmas start in the Nikolaus Lauf (Santa Claus Run) in the east German town of Michendorf, southwest of Berlin December 7, 2014. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

People dressed in Santa costumes take “selfies” during the Tokyo Santa Run at a park in Tokyo December 6, 2014. Hundreds of people wearing costumes participated in the 2.5km (1.5 miles) charity run on Saturday to raise funds for children ahead of the upcoming Christmas season. (Yuya Shino/Reuters)

A costumed participant attends the “Santa Claus Run” in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest December 6, 2014. About 100 participants attended the event organized in the benefit of Romanian Association of Pediatric Orthopedists and Traumatologists. (Bogdan Cristel/Reuters)

An employee of a local zoo, dressed as Santa Claus, walks with a reindeer and meets with local residents while marking the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in a street in Russia’s Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 5, 2014. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

A participant reacts to the camera as they start the Santa Run for Wishes charity run along the Marina Promenade in Singapore’s central business district November 29, 2014. The five kilometer fun run where participants dress up for the festive season aims to raise funds to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions between the ages of three to 18. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

A man dressed as Santa Claus waves from the back of an antique fire truck after arriving on a lobster boat for the town’s Tree Lighting ceremony in Rockport, Massachusetts December 6, 2014. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

A giant Santa Claus, created and worn by local artist Ed Terrell, 66, walks home with his son and assistant, Rupanuga, 18, following a ceremony to decorate a scraggly Christmas tree with a single red Bulb in Reading, Pennsylvania, December 7, 2014. A ceremony to decorate the scraggly Christmas tree in Reading, Pennsylvania with a single red bulb, much like Charlie Brown’s tree in the animated holiday classic, was postponed to Sunday from Saturday because of rain and cold temperatures, officials said. Officials decided to hold a re-dedication ceremony, which will include a Spanish and English reading from the movie’s screenplay, and decorate it with a single red bulb, as in the 1965 animated television special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” (Mark Makela/Reuters)

Santa Claus poses for a photo in front of the stadium before the game between the Baylor Bears and the Kansas State Wildcats at McLane Stadium. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Members of the “Skipper” yacht club dressed as Father Frost, the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, sail a yacht to mark the end of the sailboat season, with the air temperature at about minus 18 degrees Celsius (minus 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit), on the Yenisei River, outside Russia’s Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk,. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

Santa Claus around the world

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