Santa sightings around the world

Thrill-seeking Santa Clauses take the plunge over Picton in Australia’s Southern Highlands. (Craig Bennett / AFP/Getty Images)

Sept. 16, 2014 10:29 AM PT

In Baghdad, a U.S. soldier poses for a picture on Santa’s lap at the Al-Faw Palace military headquarters. (Khalid Mohammed / Associated Press)

Santa appears a little overdressed at this Miami photo op. The jolly one posed with the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders during Sunday’s game pitting the San Francisco 49ers and Miami at Dolphin Stadium. The Dolphins defeated the 49ers 14-9. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Santa gets a police esport at the Orthopaedic Hospital in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, where he delivered some toys. But first he was dropped off by a helicopter and then got to ride in a SWAT vehicle. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

South Koreans dressed in St. Nick garb take a ride on a roller coaster at Everland amusement park in Yongin, South Korea. They were taking part in a Santa Claus school in preparation for the holiday season. (Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images)

Santa goes wakeboarding at Lake Neulaender in Hamburg, Germany. (Ulrich Perrey / EPA)

Father Christmas takes a dive at the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, to deliver goodies to the tropical fish, turtles and sharks. The cookie-shaped treats were made of coalfish instead of pastry. (Martin Meissner / Associated Press)

It’s a winter wonderland in Copper Mountain, Colo., where the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix was held. Santa helped clear newly fallen snow from a halfpipe during the finals of the event. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)

Like a bowlful of jelly? St. Nick closes his eyes while being weighed by Dr. Jane Sadler at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. The physician declared him “fit for duty,” despite the love handles, in this event held to urge people to get annual physicals and regular checkups. (LM Otero / Associated Press)

For the Coupe de Noel swimming competition at Lake Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland, competitors swim about 136 yards in chilly waters. Two bright-red, bearded Santa’s helpers were among the 600 participants. (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP/Getty Images)

A good cause fostered the Christmas spirit among participants in a fundraising race, a benefit for a children’s hospital, outside Rome’s Colosseum. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)