Trained American Santas hit Jerusalem for Orthodox Christmas
People dressed in Santa Claus outfits wave from inside a bus as they make their way to visit Jerusalem's Old City as a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Dozens of Santa Clauses turned heads in Jerusalem on Sunday, catching a ride on a sightseeing tram and parading in its walled Old City in a visit to the Holy Land for Orthodox Christmas.
The Santas were trained in spreading holiday cheer at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan. The trip was hosted by Israel's Tourism Ministry to coincide with the date when many Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas - Jan. 7.
Fred Honerkamp, 74, from Midland, Michigan, said he had been a Santa for 18 years, "lifting a lot of children and hearing their hopes and dreams":
Fred Honerkamp, smiles while wearing his Santa Claus outfit as he prepares to visit Jerusalem's Old City together with a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, at a hotel in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
"There's a saying that 'he errs who thinks that Santa comes through the chimney - he comes through the heart', and we represent the spirit of love and giving during the Christmas season."
The 50-strong Santa squad were also planning to take a boat ride, in costume, on the biblical Sea of Galilee, and to float, in Santa bathing suits, in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, the ministry said.
The place where Christian pilgrims visit the biblical site of Jesus's birth, the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, lies five miles (eight km) down the road from Jerusalem's Old City in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on the other side of a towering Israeli concrete military barrier.
A view from above shows a group of people form around the world dressed in Santa Claus outfits, as they parade through Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
(Editing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
American couple Fred and Kathleen Honerkamp, make adjusts to their Santa Claus outfits as they prepare to visit Jerusalem's Old City together with a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, at their hotel in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenAmerican couple Fred and Kathleen Honerkamp, chat in their Santa Claus outfits as they prepare to visit Jerusalem's Old City together with a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, at their hotel in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenFred Honerkamp, applies make-up as he prepares to wear his Santa Claus outfit, before visiting Jerusalem's Old City together with a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, at a hotel in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenA group of Santa Clauses from around the world, ride a sightseeing vehicle as they make their way into Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenA group of Santa Clauses from around the world, gather together for a group photograph upon their arrival into Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenPeople dressed in Santa Claus outfits, part of a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, greet passers-by as they tour Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenPeople dressed in Santa Claus outfits sing from inside a bus as they make their way to visit Jerusalem's Old City as a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, in Jerusalem January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir CohenA man dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, takes part in a parade together with a group of Santa Clauses from around the world, as they tour Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
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