This has been a great year for Nintendo Switch's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and there are still a few holiday events in store to wrap 2020 up. The world of Animal Crossing doesn't have a Santa Claus per se, but it does have a character or two that serves as the next best thing.
Before November is over, players will get to experience Harvest Day - Animal Crossing's version of Thanksgiving - and this will include a new NPC for New Horizons, Franklin the turkey. There are also plans for a Christmas and New Year's event in store, as seen with previous games in the series. The Christmas event in the Animal Crossing franchise is known as Toy Day, which is celebrated on December 24th, like the eve of the holiday it's based on.
In the last game of the series, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, players were given all of December to figure out the perfect gifts for their villagers, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will likely follow that lead. There has never been a bearded fat man that delivers presents in Animal Crossing - after all, every character except the player is an animal. Instead, Santa's duties fell upon another new NPC that will be introduced in New Horizons, Jingle the reindeer.
Animal Crossing's Santa Claus Is Jingle The Reindeer & YOU
Jingle the reindeer is the Santa Claus equivalent in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, similar to how Zipper T. Bunny is analogous to the Easter Bunny during the Bunny Day event. However, unlike reliable old Saint Nick, Jingle expresses to the player - at least in Animal Crossing: New Leaf - that he doesn't want to deliver presents on Toy Day. He says he would rather have someone else dressed like Santa Claus do it. Of course, the player is expected to assume that role. Essentially, Animal Crossing's Santa Claus is a combination of Jingle and the player.
Throughout the month of December from the 1st to the 24th, the player will be able to purchase Santa Claus clothing and matching accessories from Animal Crossing's Able Sisters and Kicks. Also during this time, villagers will drop hints to the player regarding what kind of holiday present they want to receive on Toy Day. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Jingle can be found in the plaza until 6pm that day. In order for the player to receive a gift from him, they are required to dress like Santa Claus and hand out holiday gifts to their villagers. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will likely implement something similar where the player must wear a Santa hat, beard, coat, pants, and boots while performing Kris Kringle's duties.
While wearing the costume on Animal Crossing's Toy Day, the villagers will think that the Santa-clad player is the real deal, and will ask the player for their desired presents. Once distributed, the player can talk to Jingle to get a holiday-themed item, just like Franklin hands out harvest-themed items during Animal Crossing's Harvest Day. There will likely be a bonus reward for handing out the correct items. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the player would receive Jingle's picture in the mail the following day. It will be interesting to see how much changes in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The holiday update is expected to come out later this month.