Behind the beard: What America’s Santas do when Christmas is over

Behind the beard: What America’s Santas do when Christmas is over

On December 26, America wakes up to half-empty trees, flattened wrapping paper and the gentle relief that the holidays are finally over. For professional Santas, the feeling is more complicated. After two or three months of relentless schedules, constant smiling and never breaking character, the season doesn’t so much end as fall off a cliff, CNN reported.

In hotel lobbies, malls and town squares, the crowds vanish overnight. The phone stops ringing. The suit goes into a garment bag. For men and women who have spent weeks being recognised everywhere they go, the silence can feel jarring.

Many Santas describe the week after Christmas as a physical and emotional comedown. The adrenaline that carries them through endless photo sessions, crying toddlers, late-night travel and seasonal illnesses suddenly drains away. What’s left is exhaustion — and, for some, a surprising sense of loss.

A job that doesn’t switch off

Playing Santa is not just seasonal dress-up. For those who do it professionally, it is a role that demands discipline and emotional labour. They monitor their diet, their sleep and even the way they speak in public. Children are always watching, and a careless moment can shatter the illusion.

During December, Santas absorb stories far heavier than toy requests. Children ask about sick parents, missing siblings, broken homes. Mrs. Clauses and elves hear the same. Those conversations don’t disappear when the season ends. They linger.

By January, many Santas admit they feel wrung out. Some compare it to performers after a long tour. Others liken it to caregivers who suddenly have no one to care for.

January is the hardest month

The red suit is carefully cleaned and stored, props packed away, beards trimmed back to everyday life. For some, that ritual is grounding. For others, it marks the start of a difficult stretch.

Professional Santa organisations openly talk about post-season blues. After months of purpose and praise, January can feel empty. There are fewer social interactions, fewer affirmations, fewer reasons to perform kindness at scale.

That’s one reason why Santas gather in the off-season. Conferences, training programmes and even cruises bring them back together, offering camaraderie and a reminder that the role is bigger than one month. These gatherings are part therapy, part continuing education, part community.

A profession, not a pastime

Behind the cheer is a serious business. Professional Santas invest heavily in costumes, grooming, travel, insurance and background checks. Many treat it as a full-fledged profession, with reputations built over decades.

That professionalism is also why disagreements and politics occasionally surface within Santa organisations. Standards matter. Behaviour off-camera matters. When one Santa missteps, others feel the fallout.

At the same time, the community is slowly changing. Women, people of colour and LGBTQ Santas are becoming more visible, challenging long-held assumptions about who gets to wear the suit. For many children, seeing a Santa who looks like them matters as much as the presents.

Holding on to the meaning

Ask Santas why they keep coming back, despite the exhaustion, and the answer is rarely about money. It is about connection. About the look on a child’s face. About being trusted, briefly, with hope.

That’s what sustains them through the quiet months. By February or March, planning for the next season begins. New scripts, new costumes, new ways to listen better.

Christmas may end on December 25. For America’s Santas, the work of carrying its meaning lasts all year.