A YouGov survey has found that 50% of Brits would be open to the idea of an ethnic minority Santa. There was less support, however, for a female or a gay Santa, with only 27% and 39% finding such a prospect palatable. An advert recently released by the Norwegian postal service showed Father Christmas kissing a man, 50 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in the country.
Longest running Santa school honoured
A US school dedicated to preparing people to portray Santa has been named the world’s longest-running institution of its kind by Guinness World Records. The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, founded in October 1937, has been operating continuously for 84 years. Its Clausesque curriculum includes how to properly dress as Santa, how to sing and dance to Christmas music, how to make toys in a workshop and how to ride a sleigh.
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Space agencies ‘should join 62-mile high club’
Nasa has been encouraged to do more to encourage the study of sex in space with its astronauts. A new study has also called on the UK Space Agency to start exploring “space sexology”, which is defined as the scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy. The Daily Star said boffins want to help saucy space travellers join the “62-mile high club”.
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Who is paying for Europe’s €90bn EU loan?Today’s Big Question Kyiv secures crucial funding but the EU ‘blinked’ at the chance to strike a bold blow against Russia
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Quiz of The Week: 13 – 19 DecemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
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How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
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Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
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Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
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Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
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Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
