How Covid-19 has transformed Santa’s grottos

Children can still meet Father Christmas - from a distance

Manoel Miranda de Sousa and his wife perform as Santa Claus and Mrs Claus via live video, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AP

A Santa Claus performer helps Selfridges launch an open-air Christmas Market in London, England. Getty Images

Santa Larry speaks with a virtual visitor at the Santa Experience in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The owners had initially set up a socially distanced set, featuring a cabin with a plexiglass window, but moved completely online after new Covid-19 restrictions were put in place. Getty Images

Santa Claus talks to children on Zoom in Newquay, England. A new partnership between Santa Claus and the Children's Hospice South West sees Santa meeting with children right across the country via Zoom. Getty Images

Children Zoe, Gwen, and Rory Godfrey talk to Santa on Zoom in Crantock, England. Getty Images

Chocolate Santa Clauses with masks for sale in Pirmasens, Germany. EPA

Santa Claus greets guests at Kew Gardens in London, England. Getty Images

An assistant helps Pal Pillmayer, dressed as Santa Claus, as he prepares to interact with children by video chat in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters

Janos Nemes, dressed as Santa Claus, interacts with children by video in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters

Santa Claus gestures to visitors in their cars as they attend the Dodgers Holiday Festival, a drive-thru light and performance experience in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Federica Rodriguez is greeted by Santa Claus from behind a transparent barrier in Miami. AP Photo

Brad Six wears a protective face mask as he puts on his boots preparing to work as Santa Claus in Miami. AP Photo

Santa Claus adjusts his protective face shield between visits from children and their families in Miami. AP Photo

Aaron Spenedelow dressed as Santa Claus waves to the camera during a Zoom call with a family, as Santa's Grotto Live gets underway in Wembley, north London. AFP

Face shields, perspex barriers and wish lists read out over Zoom - the coronavirus pandemic has transformed Santa’s grottos.

A visit to a grotto is a Christmas tradition for many families but Covid-19 hasn’t stopped the big man in the red suit from delighting children across the UK and Europe.

Kids can still meet Santa but only from a safe social distance.

The UK government formally banned children from sitting on Santa’s knee in all three tiers of restrictions, while similar curbs are in place across Europe.

Eager not to let the pandemic disappoint, many grotto visits have this year taken place over Zoom.

For those still taking place in shopping centres, children can expect to meet Santa from behind a perspex barrier.

Despite the tough rules, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman confirmed Santa would not be required to wear a mask.

“We know that meeting Father Christmas is a magical experience for children which is why he will be taking safety precautions including ensuring that he is operating in a Covid-secure way, but it won’t be required for Santa to wear a mask,” he said.

“It won’t be permitted for children to sit on his knee as part of the guidance.”