Brookfield Property Partners, which owns The SoNo Collection mall in Norwalk, Connecticut, will use her concept, and she’ll also be bringing the Snow Globe Santa to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Inflatable globes are already set up in Kentucky, Georgia, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan and Texas, she said.

“Some people have said that they’re going to throw Santa away,” this season, Burgess said. “And I just believe that’s such a disservice to the character of who Santa Claus is. Santa Claus has survived everything from the Spanish Flu to the bubonic plague. And he’s not afraid of Covid-19.”

The pandemic has accelerated the number of people shopping online. And it looks to be shaping a new digital experience with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well.

“This is the beginning of an evolution,” IBRBS’ Arnold said.

Virtual Santa companies like JingleRing and Santa’s Club, which offer real-time conversations with Santa Claus, have exploded in popularity, he said. If the trend holds, it could certainly put a damper on families’ long-standing traditions. But maybe for the better.

“The Santa community will actually be able to reach more people through the virtual industry,” Arnold said.

“It’ll take less time, you can schedule an appointment for whenever it’s right for your family ... [and] it’s not just, ‘Oh, I’ve got to take them to the mall and wait with them in line for an hour and a half, and they’re falling asleep.’”

— CNBC’s Amanda Lasky contributed to this reporting.

Learn More: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/05/mall-santas-to-use-igloos-and-virtual-visits-as-covid-cases-surge.html