VOA慢速英语--新冠疫情改变了圣诞老人和孩子们见面的方式

The coronavirus health crisis has changed how Santa Claus meets with American children.

Santa now wears a face covering over his white beard. He stays behind a barrier and keeps distance for safety. He meets with children outdoors or online. And some Santas, actually performers who play Santas, just took the season off.

The physical qualities that make the perfect Santa also increase the risks of COVID-19. "Most of us tick all the boxes: We are old, we are overweight, we have diabetes¹ and if we don't have diabetes, we have heart disease," said Stephen Arnold. He is the president of IBRBS, a group formerly² known as the International Brotherhood³ of Real Bearded Santas.

Business is hurting

Mitch Allen is president of HireSanta, one of the largest Santa-hiring agencies in the country. He said, "Santa safety is our No. 1 concern" and safety is included into every business agreement.

He added that the coronavirus crisis hurt business at first, but it came back, especially online. The average Santa makes $5,000 to $10,000 during a normal season, Allen said.

Jac Grimes plays Santa in Greensboro, North Carolina. He gave up home visits which make up about a third of his business. He did it not just for his own health, but to prevent passing the virus from one family to the next. At a farmer's market that he works every year, Grimes and his wife dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus and sit in a parking area. They talk to people who remain inside their cars.

The virus has many Santas and parents turning to online visits. Those visits often have led many Santas to turn to their children and others for help learning new computer skills. "It has been a challenge," said Christopher Saunders, a Santa performer in Tool, a small town near Dallas, Texas. But Saunders and others say online visits are a good, if imperfect, replacement⁴ for in-person visits.

Even Santas with the best jobs are hurting. Howard Graham has played Santa for eight years at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The place is known for its famous Christmas show with the Rockettes, a dance group. This year, he is doing online visits and working five days with a historic railroad in Pennsylvania. "I love what I do ... bringing them (children) a little bit of smiles and hope," said Graham.

"The kids are excited and that's what matters"

Brad Six first played Santa 35 years ago. He recently sat on Santa's chair for three hours at a shop in Miami. As families sat in front of a plexiglass barrier for photos, Six turned his head so that his face shield did not reflect the camera's light. He happily waved children around the barrier so they could tell him their wish list – from a distance about 1.8 meters away. As he wished them a Merry Christmas, an elf cleaned the area for the next group.

Six said the situation is "a little easier physically⁵ on Santa's back because he doesn't have to pick anybody up, but it's not as enjoyable because Santa doesn't get the interaction he normally gets." But for families, sitting with Santa, even if behind a shield, is a bit of normalcy in unusual times.

Paul and Sarah Morris and their children, 5-year-old Theo and 4-year-old Sophy, were among the first to visit Six that night. "This is definitely different," Sarah Morris said of the situation, "but the kids are excited and that's what matters."

Words in This Story

tick – v. to mark (something) with a written tick or check

diabetes -- n. medical: a serious disease in which the body cannot properly control the amount of sugar in your blood because it does not have enough insulin

imperfect – adj. having mistakes or problems : not perfect

plexiglass – n. a clear plastic often used in place of glass

shield – n. something that defends or protects someone or something

elf -- n. a small creature in stories usually with pointed⁶ ears and magical powers

interaction – n. the act of talking or doing things with other people

1 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

4 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。