​Santa Claus MUST be a man, Durham councillors vote after row over Christmas show

Santa Claus must be a man, councillors have voted
Mike Arney/Unsplash
Katy Clifton29 November 2018

A council has ruled Santa Claus must be a man after a row erupted when a woman offered to step into the role for the town show.

A debate was sparked after a woman offered to play Father Christmas in the traditional Santa Claus tour around Newton Aycliffe, in County Durham.

Since at least the 1970s, Santas have toured the town in a flatbed truck each Christmas Eve, handing out sweets to children while donning a white beard and festive outfit.

Newton Aycliffe’s Father Christmas is always played by male volunteers, but this year it was suggested that a woman could step into Santa Clause’s festive shoes.

The suggestion caused controversy among local councillors, leading to calls of political correctness and a fear of disappointed children who expect a male voice bellowing “ho-ho-ho”.

At a Great Aycliffe Town Council meeting on Wednesday, the recommendation from its events sub-committee to allow women volunteers to be Santa was considered - and rejected.

In a statement, the council said: "The Recreation Committee did not agree with the recommendation and confirmed by resolution that the role of Santa Claus should continue to be a male role."

The debate followed worries earlier this year that the tour would have to be scrapped amid concerns about the legality of someone travelling on the back of a moving van.

It was resolved when Chief Constable Mike Barton from Durham Constabulary made an assurance Father Christmas would not be prosecuted as long as the vehicle was slow.

The controversy over a woman volunteering to play the festive icon comes after Auckland's longstanding Santa, Neville Baker, was sacked for saying he would not hire a woman for the role.

Mr Baker's My Santa agency reportedly said "you can't have a Santa with boobs". It led Auckland's parade organisers to announce they would no longer employ its Santa through his agency.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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