The key facts
- 55 graduates received diplomas after a ceremony at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
- The free month-long course is open to men aged 50 and older with gray hair and a beard
- Over 33 years, the school has trained more than 1,000 Santas and about 300 female 'Noelets'
Graduation at the Christ the Redeemer statue
On Tuesday, November 4, Rio de Janeiro hosted a graduation ceremony of the Santa Claus School of Brazil: 55 graduates of the Escola de Papai Noel do Brasil, dressed in red suits and white beards, traveled by train up Corcovado mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue, where they sang Christmas songs, received a blessing, and were awarded diplomas. Euronews reported the news.
What is taught and who enrolls
The course is free and open to men aged 50 and older with naturally gray or white hair and beards. For a month, on Tuesday afternoons, students study acting, improvisation, diction, posture, makeup, costume, and beard care, and also learn Brazilian Sign Language. The school was founded in 1993 by actors Limashe Cherem and Konrad Freitas, together with costume designer Fatima Tavares Cherem, in the basement of the Cherem house in the Vila Isabel neighborhood.
What graduates become
Over 33 years, more than 1,000 Santas and about 300 'Noelets' — the female counterpart of the character — have passed through the school. Many graduates are pensioners who earn extra income at shopping malls, hospitals, and holiday events. Some return for a second certificate, like truck driver Marineziu Teixeira de Oliveira.
