Big Santa is down... and Christmas is officially over
08.01.2024 - 10:42
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
If Christmas wasn't already over, it is now. Big Santa is down.
You know what we're talking about. The massive Santa Claus that sits proudly in front of the Central Library in St Peter's Square every festive period.
He brings loads of Christmas spirit to the city, and makes a great selfie backdrop. But today (January 8), he's off.
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Pictures from the city centre this morning showed Big Santa being dismantled part-by-part with his smiley, moustache-adorned face driven away on a crane. He was one of the last remaining remnants of Christmas left in the city.
Just before Christmas Day, Manchester's Christmas Markets were dismantled with the final wooden huts broken down and the last of the mulled wine served. Record numbers descended on the city centre to make the most of the markets, which this year featured over 225 ski chalet stalls spread across nine different locations.
Once again, the main hub this year was based over in Piccadilly Gardens, better known as the Winter Gardens. Although the markets were as popular as ever - there was also some backlash at the prices, something to be expected for a market event of its size.
The price punters have had to fork up for staples like sausages, beer and gluhwein remains a key topic of conversation, and this year heralded the arrival of the £8 sausage. At many hot food and drink stalls across the markets sites this year there was an average of 50p price rises across popular products.
Boozy drinks like gluhwein were up from £5 to £5.50, hot cider and boozy hot chocolate up from £5.50 to £6 and some Christmas cocktails even up to £11. Shoppers also branded a staggering £22 for a bag of pick