![Joe Mystic performs as Santa Claus at events and parties in San Diego. In the city phonebook, Mystic is listed as "Santa Claus."](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a6e26e6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x150+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fprograms%2Fmorning%2Ffeatures%2F2004%2Fdec%2Fsanta%2Fmystic_200-8ab1fa754e1c409bc93860a07ea9eaa450e86f00.jpg)
/ Scott Horsley, NPR
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Scott Horsley, NPR
Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. But for Santa look-alikes, business has been booming for weeks. A jolly old man in a red suit can make good money this time of year by playing Santa Claus -- especially if he has a real white beard.
The number of families flocking to the mall for a ritual visit to see a local Santa Claus representative means that the seasonal work can pay off handsomely.
As NPR's Scott Horsley reports, whether it's a local mall or a national chain of Santa shops that also sell photos, it takes a blend of Santa and selling to thrive at Christmastime.
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