Discover the heartwarming story of Kaalgat Santa, the South African Christmas sensation that spreads joy and laughter worldwide.
Western Cape, South Africa (18 December 2023) – For over 15 years, every festive season, a familiar sight has been making waves in the digital space – the notorious “Kaalgat Santa” – but what is the story behind this viral sensation?
The name might raise an eyebrow or two, but this South African Christmas sensation has become a beloved tradition that spreads joy and laughter far and wide.
The story of Kaalgat Santa, or Naked Santa for those who don’t speak Afrikaans, has intrigued and entertained people across the globe for over 15 years now and every year, as Christmas approaches, the image of a clothless Santa in Cape Town starts circulating on the internet, sparking curiosity and chuckles but what’s the real story behind this viral phenomenon?
After a bit of digital sleuthing, we managed to get to the “bottom” of the story behind Kaalgat Santa, and it’s one that embraces the spirit of the season.
In 2008, photographers Eric Miller and Mark Wessels decided to capture a risqué Christmas moment just for fun. This X-rated photoshoot was never meant for commercial use; it was a lighthearted expression of the Summer Christmas vibes that South Africa experiences. Eric, one of the masterminds behind the playful photoshoot, used the image as a private Christmas card, sending it to friends and family via email. Little did the duo anticipate that the image would escape into the wilds of the internet, taking on a life of its own.
Over the years, Kaalgat Santa has been shared, re-shared, and even hijacked by various businesses for promotional purposes. The image, stripped of its copyright notice, has become a recurrent feature in local neighbourhood groups during the festive season. Despite its unintended journey into the commercial world, the creators, Mark and Eric, have consciously refrained from exploiting it for financial gain.
Mark Wessels, one of the photographers, sheds light on the phenomenon: “It’s become a happy pre-Christmas routine for us. We’re both professional photographers but have consciously always avoided exploiting it for money. That was never its intention. The celebration of festive joy for life being its purpose.”
“I get frequent requests (some even wanting to see the front side) from people who know me (I’m the leaping Sexy Santa) and my friend Eric who made the image gets requests to post it again, and usually he does.”
This year is no exception. Kaalgat Santa has once again made its merry way into the hearts of social media users, trending and spreading laughter. Oddly enough, some have tried to claim the mantle of Kaalgat, but fortunately, we were able to track down Mark and Eric to unveil the genuine story behind the “behind.”
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In the words of Mark Wessels, “We love that Kaalgat Santa brings so many, so much joy over the festive season.”
So, as the digital waves carry Kaalgat Santa into another Christmas, let’s thank both Eric and Mark for giving us a laugh and some festive cheer every year.
Eric has kindly shared a high-res version of the photo with the copyright, should you want to share it.
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