Online Santas unprecedented demand: A Georgian Christmas and New Year

Georgian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7. However, Santa Claus appears bearing gifts on December 31, New Year’s Eve, in Georgia.

The Financial newspaper in Georgia reported that Santa businesses in the country are devising more creative ways to improve their business due to the diminishing interest in Santa Claus by Georgian children. Santa calling businesses in Georgia say that over the past 2-3 years, their businesses have been waning.

This year, Santa businesses have hired mountaineers and artists to perform Santa roles—such as climbing up buildings and homes. The service at about USD$100 includes Santa coming down from the top of the house and giving children gifts right at their window or balcony. When Santa businesses first started in Georgia, in about 1996, they only had snowmen (the traditional Georgian Christmas character), then they introduced rope-dancers and Santa—door-knocking Santas. Most Santa services cost about $40-$50 and can be accompanied by other artists, such as Spiderman, Pepi, Musketeers, and acrobats. Students are typically hired for these positions. Santas can perform for 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the client. Clients include parents, companies, schools and kindergartens.

This year, to add creativity, not only can parents hire door-knocking Santas, but climbing Santas are also available. However, the number of orders is low—less than 50 orders to date. Orders are likely to increase in the week before New Year’s Eve. Surprisingly, the businesses say, the traditional Georgian snowman is not in demand this year.

Online Santas, however, are on the increase. According to techcrunch.com the number of Santa downloads has reached 41 million this year (over the last 6 months of 2010). In 2011, this number is expected to increase to 100 million. Doesn’t it seem not like Christmas …

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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