Photographer Guan Nan Li returns to give BROAD a glimpse into a day in the life of Berlin‘s Boss Santa: Santa Chen. Mr. Hu-Ping Chen is a recently retired 74 year old, born and raised in Berlin to a Chinese father and a German-Chinese mother. To most people, he is simply known as ‘Der Weihnachtsmann’, or ‘Father Christmas’– a role he has continued to carry out for over 30 years. Santa Chen has had countless responsibilities over the years: he’s been a Santa ambassador, given Santa workshops, provided Santa history lessons and at one point, held command over an entire college volunteer group of other Santas with no pay–only love. I think it’s more than fair to call him boss Santa (he would never call himself boss, though! That’s on me.)

During Germany's second, harder lockdown, Santa Chen has relied on tech and some serious camera skills to spread the joy of Christmas. He’s recorded 360 video greetings at the Tempelhofer airfield, scheduled video calls with families, and has decorated his office to look like a true Santa home during his virtual rounds on Christmas Eve. This, in case you were wondering, is a day in the life of a covid-safe Santa in 2020.

- Alexa Fahlman

words by Guan Nan Li edited by Alexa Fahlman

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