With Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, the number of holiday-themed events, such as the Santa Sunday skiing bash, New York's SantaCon and annual Fun Run held across the globe, is growing at an exponential rate. Let's take a look at Santa's perfect counterparts from different parts of the world.
© AFP 2023 / Joseph BarrakA model displays a creation by K-Lynn Lingerie during a fashion show at a beach resort in the historical city of Byblos, north of Beirut, Lebanon.
A model displays a creation by K-Lynn Lingerie during a fashion show at a beach resort in the historical city of Byblos, north of Beirut, Lebanon.
Participants of Santa's Fun Run in Riga, Latvia.
© AFP 2023 / Valery HacheA woman dressed up as Santa Claus enjoys a traditional Christmas bath in Monaco.
A woman dressed up as Santa Claus enjoys a traditional Christmas bath in Monaco.
© AFP 2023 / Anne-Christine PoujoulatBikers dressed as Santa Claus gather in front of the MUCEM (The Museum for Europe and the Mediterranean) in Marseille as part of their participation in the collection of gifts for hospitalized children.
Bikers dressed as Santa Claus gather in front of the MUCEM (The Museum for Europe and the Mediterranean) in Marseille as part of their participation in the collection of gifts for hospitalized children.
© AP Photo / Lee Jin-ManDressed in Santa Claus outfits, dog trainers try to raise donations to help orphans at a department store in Seoul, South Korea.
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© AP Photo / Lee Jin-Man
Dressed in Santa Claus outfits, dog trainers try to raise donations to help orphans at a department store in Seoul, South Korea.
© AFP 2023 / Attila KisbenedekA woman has a running Santa icon painted on her belly as runners wearing Santa Claus costumes, bonnets and bathing suits take part in the "13th Santa Claus Run" in Budapest, Hungary.
A woman has a running Santa icon painted on her belly as runners wearing Santa Claus costumes, bonnets and bathing suits take part in the "13th Santa Claus Run" in Budapest, Hungary.
© AP Photo / Polfoto/Kristian LinnemannMen and women dressed as Santa Claus take part in a street parade in the famous pedestrian street Stroeget, during the World Santa Claus Congress in central Copenhagen, Denmark.
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© AP Photo / Polfoto/Kristian Linnemann
Men and women dressed as Santa Claus take part in a street parade in the famous pedestrian street Stroeget, during the World Santa Claus Congress in central Copenhagen, Denmark.
© AFP 2023 / Valery HacheYoung women dressed in Santa Claus outfit blow kisses within the traditional Christmas bath on December 21, 2014 on the beach in downtown Nice.
Young women dressed in Santa Claus outfit blow kisses within the traditional Christmas bath on December 21, 2014 on the beach in downtown Nice.
© AFP 2023 / Patricia De Melo MoreiraGirls attend the annual Santa Claus parade in Porto, Portugal, during an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the most people dressed as Santa Claus.
Girls attend the annual Santa Claus parade in Porto, Portugal, during an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the most people dressed as Santa Claus.
© AFP 2023 / Valery HacheA woman in a Santa outfit walks through waves on a Sainte Anne beach on the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe.
A woman in a Santa outfit walks through waves on a Sainte Anne beach on the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe.
© AFP 2023 / Delil SouleimanSyrian women dressed in Santa Claus outfits pose for a picture during Christmas celebrations in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.
Syrian women dressed in Santa Claus outfits pose for a picture during Christmas celebrations in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.
© AP Photo / Fernando LlanoA woman dressed as Santa takes part in the Santa Claus Run in Caracas, Venezuela.
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© AP Photo / Fernando Llano
A woman dressed as Santa takes part in the Santa Claus Run in Caracas, Venezuela.
© AFP 2023 / Jens Norgaard LarsenDanish Santa Claus Villy Brinkbaek (right) enjoys a cooling foot bath in the company of three young female assistants in the Oresund at the Bellevue Beach some 15 kilometers north of Copenhagen, during the annual Santa Claus convention.
Danish Santa Claus Villy Brinkbaek (right) enjoys a cooling foot bath in the company of three young female assistants in the Oresund at the Bellevue Beach some 15 kilometers north of Copenhagen, during the annual Santa Claus convention.
© AFP 2023 / Justin TallisRevelers dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in Santacon, an annual walk in London, UK.
Revelers dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in Santacon, an annual walk in London, UK.
© AFP 2023 / Jung Yeon-JeA girl walks in front of performers clad in Santa Claus outfits during a street event to promote the Christmas season at a shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.
A girl walks in front of performers clad in Santa Claus outfits during a street event to promote the Christmas season at a shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.
© AFP 2023 / Marco BertorelloPeople dressed as Santa Claus gather during the 8th edition of the Santa Claus "Papa Noel" rally, a charity event for the Regina Margherita Children Hospital in Turin, Italy.
People dressed as Santa Claus gather during the 8th edition of the Santa Claus "Papa Noel" rally, a charity event for the Regina Margherita Children Hospital in Turin, Italy.