Santa Claus travels the world - in pictures

Ahoy there … Father Christmas takes to the helm of HMS Blyth as it arrives at a naval base on the Clyde Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Now, where's my shopping list? Santa Claus walks through a toy store in Lille, northern France Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

Santa Claus makes sure he can see where he is going during a foot race in Milan Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

On your marks! Get set! Go! A group of Santa Clauses prepare for the annual fun run in Edinburgh Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

Santa Claus feeds the sardines at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea Photograph: Ahn Young-joon/AP

Santa Claus waits for a bus on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico … Photograph: Reuters

… and hops on one in São Paulo, Brazil Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

Commando style, Santa Clauses abseil down the Suri mountain in South Korea Photograph: Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA

How many Santa Clauses can you fit into a telephone box? Revellers in Trafalgar Square attempt to find out Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

The recession has affected Santa Claus this year. Unable to afford the upkeep of his reindeer, he has to run on foot to deliver gifts to the east German town of Michendorf … Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

… finally making it to Brighton for the annual Santa Dash Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

Santa Claus carries Christmas gifts to sell in Harare, Zimbabwe Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

Santa Claus delivers presents to the dolphins at Marineland in Antibes, south-eastern France Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

Up and down, up and down: Santas travel by escalator in a shopping mall in Moscow Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA

Despite having a face familiar to most people, Santa still has to submit to the full body search on Capitol Hill Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Geronimo! Santa heads downhill in the ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio in northern Italy Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

A bunch of Santas make a dash for it when they realise they are at the wrong pole after being dropped off by the British navy ship HMS Protector on Deception Island, Antarctica Photograph: LA Arron Hoare / British Ministry Of Defence/EPA

Santa arrives by helicopter to deliver presents to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Guatemala City Photograph: Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters

When I'm cleaning windows … a couple of Santas dressed for the festive season in Tokyo Photograph: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images

Dasher and Prancer steer a team of Santas along the canals in Venice Photograph: Reuters

Santa directs traffic in Pasay City, south of Manila, Philippines Photograph: Francis R. Malasig/EPA

Masked up, Santa Clauses perform in a student play in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters

Come on in, the water is lovely! A host of Santa Clauses enjoy a traditional Christmas swim in Monaco Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

Santa Claus takes to the waves in Praia da Barra, Aveiro, Portugal Photograph: Paulo Novais/EPA