The pandemic is changing the way the holidays look this year. That means good ol’ St. Nick will have to come up with a new plan for face time with good boys and girls. Meeting with children with social distancing in place makes things difficult, after all. But there’s a solution: Zoom.
For a fee, parents can line up a “professional Santa” for a holiday chat with their children without leaving their homes. CNET reports that several actors, many of whom have appeared during holiday ceremonies or in commercials, are offering virtual visits with Santa.
For modest to a bit more exorbitant prices, these Santas offer live sessions that can be recorded and viewed later. They offer easy ways to spread holiday cheer while supporting those who bring Santa to life for a living.
There are a variety of different outfits offering virtual Santa visits across time slots. These include, as CNET points out, services like Santa’s Club and ‘Santa’ Ed Taylor. You can even Zoom with Mr. and Mrs. Claus for a double whammy of a visit.
These Zoom calls add a more personal touch than a mall visit and may, in some ways, be even better. Though this is a pandemic-specific offering, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it outlast the coronavirus if it proves popular. Because who wants to wait online for an hour with an inpatient toddler? If you’re looking for a way to bring Kris Kringle into your home this Christmas, get out your wallet and book a Zoom time.
