Santa, in its myriad avatars

It's that time of the year again: cakes, prayers, gifts and wishes galore as Santa comes calling. This slow shutter speed photograph taken on December 25, 2010 shows the nativity scene during a Christmas mass in Colombo. (Photo courtesy: AFP)

Children dressed as Santa Claus light up candles as they offer prayers on the eve of Christmas Day at St Paul's church in Amritsar on December 24.((Photo courtesy: AFP)

A girl gestures to ask a boy to keep silent during a Christmas Eve Mass at the official Catholic church South Cathedral in Beijing, China, Friday, Dec. 24, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Santa Claus rides an elevator with bags of gifts as he readies to visit a residential apartment on Christmas Eve in the Lebanese capital Beirut, on December 24, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP)

Dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, a diver swims with sardines at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 24, 2010. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in South Korea, where over half of the population are Christians. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Santa Claus water skis down the Potomac River on Christmas Eve December 24, 2010, at Maryland's National Harbor, a few miles down the river from Washington, DC. The Water Skiing Santa, Flying Elves, a Jet-Skiing Grinch, and even Frosty the Snowman, have been appearing on the river for 25 years in freezing temperatures. What started as a small thing has now turned into an annual event with thousands of people watching from the shore. (Photo courtesy: AFP)

A Thai mahout directs his elephant at Jirasartwitthaya school in Ayutthaya, Thailand, as elementary school students watch a show featuring elephants dressed as Santa Claus Friday, Dec. 24, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AP)

A Palestinian protester wearing a Santa Claus costume runs away from a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops during a protest against Israel's separation barrier outside the West Bank village of Bilin, near Ramallah, Friday, Dec 24, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Santa Claus smiles as he greets shoppers at the Ithaca Mall in Ithaca, New York, Nov. 24, 2010. The mall opened before the crack of dawn on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and often the busiest shopping day of the year, offering one-day sales and ushering in the Christmas shopping season. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Santa Claus poses with reindeer, elves and children after water skiing on the Potomac River on December 24, 2010 in National Harbor, Maryland. This will be the 25th anniversary of the holiday maritime tradition. (Photo courtesy: AFP)