Explanation for multiple Santas?!

[sometimesyouwin]

My DS1 has just turned 4 and is very observant of tiny minor details. DH and I were discussing today what we should say with regards to seeing multiple Santas all over the place. They keep appearing outside supermarkets etc! What explanation do most people give? Do you say there is only one real one and the rest are just dressing up?

Santa's helpers, as he cant be everywhere at once he has special helpers to come and see everyone as he is so busy.

They're special helpers because Santa himself is very busy at this time of year so sends helpers out to make sure everyone who wants to can get a message to him.

It seems to work for the moment.

Only the real santa has gold boots btw ;)

Some sort of franchise?

I say some are just dressing up and employed y stores but at more fancy and expensive places the real one may turn up occasionally to keep his hand in...( ie a proper grotto)

My ds thinks the Santa he goes to see every year is the real Santa. The real Santa can be at other grottos too. But some Santa's will not be the real Santa they will be Santa's helpers helping out because the real Santa is busy somewhere else.

My dd (otherwise a rational being) is enormously accepting of the concept of Santa's omnipresence. To the extent that, we took her to a concert for toddlers recently, brass trio, one of them in a very desultory Santa outfit. She keeps discussing Santa's performance with me. Like, why would he be performing at a concert? Wouldn't he be too busy, etc?

Thanks guys, I think the Santas helpers idea is a winner. Just want to be prepared as once I've told him something that will be it! If I go off track with my explanation another time, he'll question me about it! Got to be consistent!

We day that some of the Santas are from the Santa school and are training to be Santa, DS is happy with this and yesterday we saw the real one or so DS thought as he was so old/good etc etc