Elephant Santas pass out face masks, hand gel in Thai school tradition

An elephant hands out gifts to children during Christmas celebrations at the Jirasart Witthaya school in Ayutthaya on Dec 24, 2021

AYUTTHAYA, Thailand (Reuters): Elephants in Thailand wearing Santa hats and surgical masks passed out hand gel, face masks and balloons to students at a school's annual Christmas party, a Covid-era twist on a 15-year tradition in the Buddhist majority country.

"I'm so excited because an event like this only happens once a year and I think my school is the only place with elephant Santas," said elementary school student, Beyapha Mhonsuwan.