It seems the era of jolly, plump old men with white beards and red noses is slowly fading away. According to research conducted by American scientists, the role of is increasingly being embraced by younger, slimmer individuals, often women.
A university team surveyed 850 professional Santas and conducted in-depth interviews with 50 of them. It turns out that many young, agile people, including women, are now successfully taking on the responsibilities of the main Christmas figure.
“Society has some pretty strict stereotypes about what Santa should look like, but we found that practically anyone can become Santa if they want to,” said co-author of the study, Borbala Chillage. According to her, those who transform into Santa are actually more diverse than one might expect.
The team’s analysis revealed that modern professional Santas fall into three categories. The first consists of those who remain true to most traditional Santa attributes. The second includes so-called semi-prototypical characters who retain key features of the classic Christmas figure. The third category is non-prototypical Santas, who bear little resemblance to the traditional Santa, as reported by Daily Mail.
Other Santas
Researchers asked these atypical Santas about their appearances and what led them to this seasonal profession.
One slim Santa explained that he doesn’t have a big belly because he takes care of his .
Others, including a woman, an Orthodox Jew, and a person of color, stated that they consider themselves Santas year-round and feel called to play this role despite their differences from the traditional figure.
“These atypical Santas are trailblazers. Being Santa is more than just a job; it’s a calling,” believes Dr. Chillage. According to the researcher, those who feel this calling can succeed even if they don’t fit societal stereotypes.
“To live out your calling, you don’t have to have a specific appearance or personality traits,” Dr. Chillage added.
She believes the findings from the study, published in the Academy of Management Journal, could be beneficial for employers with open positions for Santa Claus.
This research was conducted a year after scientists claimed that Santas are . Researchers urged Britons to offer the Christmas figure treats without a drink.
“Santa’s rosy cheeks could be a result of facial flushing syndrome—a reaction to alcohol,” said Professor Adam Taylor, director of the Center for Clinical Anatomy Studies at Lancaster University (UK). This syndrome is caused not by a habit of regular drinking , but rather by an intolerance to it. According to Professor Taylor, this condition affects 8 percent of the population.
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