This last weekend before Christmas, France’s new prime minister won’t have time for Christmas shopping. Bayrou spends his time going from meeting to meeting to form a government.
The political crisis has been raging in France since the day after the July 7 snap elections announced by President Emmanuel Macron, which did not secure independence for any party or political coalition. , Michel Barnier who “lasted” just three months, from September 5 to December 13.
For most French people, however, this last weekend before Christmas is dedicated to holiday preparations and gift-giving. An integral part of the Christmas ritual, it is obviously Santa Claus who brings the gifts. But this year in France, there is a shortage of Santa Clauses.
Why have Santas “lost” in France?
Primarily seasonal workers, professional Santas are active for twenty-four days, from December 1st to 24th. And while there is a lot of demand from shopping malls, nursing homes, schools, outdoor Christmas markets and even supermarkets, there aren’t many willing professionals.
which show great variation in different regions of France. For example, in Montauban, which is located 50 kilometers from Toulouse in the south of France, according to the site, myJob, Santa Claus was wanted to work four hours this afternoon, for 11.88 euros an hour. And for that fee, Santa Claus should be smiling non-stop, kind, energetic and wearing size 45 shoes so he can walk around with big boots full of presents for the kids.
Their working conditions
On the contrary, in the Paris region, for this weekend they were looking for Santa Clauses with a fee of 22 euros, net, per hour. Therefore, the difference in wages is big and in this difference, the working conditions of the “Saint” should also be taken into account. Dressed in the classic red velvet outfit, with cap, bells, and long fake white beard, Santa Claus will have to endure the cold if he works in an outdoor Christmas market: around him, young and old will be drinking hot chocolate, shopping gifts and he should look at them happy and smiling and attract them to take pictures together of.
If he is again called to work in a shopping center, “Agios” will have to endure the heat and noise of children and adults looking for gifts until the last minute. Again he should be ready at all times for pictures with the children. He has no right to take a break and ask to be replaced, for a while, by an elf or a goblin!
French girls can become so impatient and forget their Gallic politeness that they start jostling to steal each other’s turn in order to get the coveted photo. (Let this be taken into account by Greek parents, when they compare their own children with “foreign ones”).
“Many of our Santa Clauses complain about the behavior of children and especially their parents, who do not react or bring them back to order,” Cary Bounaby, who runs a seasonal workers’ agency, told the French newspaper Le Monde. in the theater.
Freelancers are Santas
But there are also freelance Santa Clauses who publish their ads on platforms like StaffMe: here the demand is high and the prices fluctuate steadily at 20 euros an hour, for Santa Claus services.
whether in your city, or in France, or anywhere else, remember that the Santa Clauses you will meet in the streets, squares, markets, shops, are workers, seasonal, who deserve kindness and a smile as much as yours you and your children.
