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Santa gets a big helper at academy in Italy
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How would you like to train to be part of the official Santa Claus team? Well, you can do just that at the Santa's Helpers Academy in northern Italy - the only school of its kind in the world formally recognized by the Elf School in Lapland.
There's more to a good Santa's helper than just wrapping presents.
And while Santa's current team is in Lapland busy preparing all the presents in time for Christmas Eve, a new batch of trainee helpers in the Italian town of Noventa di Piaveare are being put through their paces so they too can help out on the all important Christmas Eve.
A vital part of the training is learning to trek through the snow. In order to keep fit and withstand the harsh arctic climate, the students are taught Nordic walking.
Luciano Biashini, Nordic Walking Teacher, said, "Father Christmas is Finnish, Nordic walking is Finnish, so it's always a great combination, especially since Father Christmas must deliver all the presents, they are training to be able to carry them better."
Santa's Helpers Academy is the only school for Santa Claus helpers in the world formally recognized by the official Finnish Santa Claus and his Elf School in Lapland.
Delivering presents to all the children in the world in just one night is no easy feat, and Santa would never be able to manage it if it wasn't for all his helpers. But it's important they learn to have fun too, and that is why the school includes lessons in traditional Finnish dancing.
When the school opened a year ago it received more than 300 applicants from all over the country. Only a few dozen got in.
The trainees here are all volunteers. Since the academy will not allow them to use their training for any future commercial purpose, most of them have other careers or are pensioners.
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