It is a holiday tradition for many - Christmas photos with Santa. Last year COVID-19 prevented families from having the little ones sit on Santa's lap, but this year the tradition is back in a new way to serve both those who are and still are not ready to visit with Santa in person.
CP Illustration: Abbie Adams Stating that the holidays look very different from previous years has become a cliché at this point. But for people like Lance Skapura, a professional Santa Claus who has performed in and around Pittsburgh for the last seven years, the rote sentiment still carries a lot of weight. “Everything is a little bit more somber than it would be in a normal year,” says Skapura when describing being hired for private home visits, where his contract requires that everyone wear a mask and adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines. “Whenever you come into the home, it s not the explosion of anticipation that it has been in past years.”