Brazil: Santa Claus School celebrates graduation at Christ the Redeemer

Loading the video No Comment Video. Brazil: Santa Claus School celebrates graduation at Christ the Redeemer Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 4 November 2026 - 18:30 GMT+1 Dozens of Santas gathered at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue to celebrate their graduation. The 55 new recruits are preparing to spread Christmas cheer across Brazil. Christmas came early to Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, when 55 graduates of the Escola de Papai Noel do Brasil gathered beneath Christ the Redeemer to mark the end of their training. Dressed in red suits and white beards, the new Santas sang carols as they rode the Corcovado mountain railway to the statue, then climbed the final steps for a ceremony that included a blessing and the presentation of diplomas. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The free course, open to men aged 50 and over with naturally white or grey hair and beards, runs for a month of Tuesday afternoon classes covering acting, improvisation, diction, posture, make-up, costume and beard care, plus Brazilian Sign Language. It was founded in 1993 by the actors Limachem Cherem and Conrado Freitas, with the costume designer Fátima Tavares Cherem, in the basement of Cherem's house in Vila Isabel. More than 1,000 Santas have passed through the school in 33 years, along with about 300 Noeletes, its female equivalent. Many graduates are retirees earning extra income at shopping centres, hospitals and parties; some, such as the lorry driver Marinezio Teixeira de Oliveira, come back for a second certificate. Brazil Rio de Janeiro Christmas Santa Claus Christ Redeemer school Top stories Now playing Next Brazil: Santa Claus School celebrates graduation at Christ the Redeemer Now playing Next UK: Police arrest Palestine Action supporters outside Supreme Court Now playing Next Ukraine: Police footage captures Russian strike on Komyshuvakha shelter Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 4th, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 4th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next More than 50 trapped under rubble after Russian strike on aid centre Now playing Next Portugal: Housing protesters return to Lisbon square after court ruling Now playing Next US midterm elections: Democrats take US Congress in rejection of Trump Now playing Next 2026 US midterm elections: Real-time results in maps and charts Now playing Next US midterms: What Trump's defeat means for Europe and global markets Now playing Next Democrats win control of US Congress in midterm rebuke of Trump Now playing Next Georgia PM offers no way out of EU deadlock - and blames Brussels Now playing Next Grand Voyager in Copenhagen: cycling, culture and Nordic cuisine Now playing Next Key Central Asian highway expands on trade route from China towards Europe Now playing Next Eurozone inflation hits 4%: Which countries saw prices jump the most? Now playing Next Europe’s military readiness plans at risk despite record defence spending ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Ukraine: 33 dead, over 50 missing after Russian bombing in Zaporizhzhia No Comment US midterm elections: Cheers erupt as Talarico's Texas victory is projected No Comment Tents return to Lisbon square after Portugal protest victory No Comment Americans head to the polls for US midterm elections Iran Iranian MP tells Euronews Tehran's missiles will strike Europe if US uses its bases there Tech News Apple begins AI trial in China, powered by Alibaba Europe Today 'Largest House majority' in decades, says election expert Boyd Wagner on US midterm elections Europe Today Judicial crisis is 'weakening Poland' in a 'very unfortunate' time, says former EU Commissioner Jourová World News ‘We will take back the House in 2028’: US House Speaker Johnson promises Republican comeback World News Abdul El-Sayed makes history as first Muslim elected to US Senate World News ‘Democrats did a good job’: Trump congratulates Democrats on midterm wins Israel Israel's election commission says no fraud found in last week's vote ADVERTISEMENT Markets US midterms: What Trump's defeat means for Europe and global markets Europe Today Europe Today: Democrats win Senate in rebuke of Trump as Poland’s constitutional crisis drags on World News ‘We defeated Goliath’: Talarico says after historic Texas Senate win USA Democrats win control of US Congress in midterm rejection of Trump presidency Europe News Thousands join Czech protest against public media financing plan USA US midterm elections: Democrats take control of US Congress in rejection of Trump Europe News Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente resigns over Urda train crash that killed 69 Tech News Italy holds emergency talks as supermarket fridge attacks spread across Europe ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT