Is it too soon? No it is not.
26th August 2020
Southwark Cathedral was echoing to the sound of HO HO HO this week when it hosted the Ministry of Fun Santa School teaching this year’s Santas how to do Christmas during a pandemic.
Grotto layout, social distancing, queue management, temperature checks and the use of masks and visors were on the agenda for the first time ever to make sure this year’s Santas are equipped with the skills they need for a safe and socially distanced Christmas.
The training session, run by the Ministry of Fun which claims to be the only professional Santa training school in Britain, took place at Southwark Cathedral on Monday, four months ahead of Christmas Eve.
The Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd Andrew Nunn, joined them briefly tweeting:
“It has been great to host @ministryoffun1 Summer Santa School at the Cathedral today. Lot’s to discuss in this Covid-19 world including how to ensure the elfs socially-distance, face coverings with beards and should hand sanitiser be left out with the mince pies and carrots.”
James Lovell, director of the Ministry of Fun Santa School, said:
“You can’t have Christmas without Santa!
“Now more than ever, everyone needs a bit of magic in their life – and that’s what the great man can still bring us all with some special measures in place to allow social distancing.”