Rio de Janeiro City Hall's Santa Claus kicks off 'Christmas Marathon' at hospitals.

December arrived this Monday, kicking off Santa's marathon through the city's hospitals. The Andaraí Hospital, under the management of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall for a year, inaugurated this year's parade, and until Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will be visiting all the hospitals in the network, bringing joy and comfort to hospitalized patients, who for a few moments will be able to forget the stresses of their illness and experience the magic of the holiday.

– The Andaraí Hospital demonstrates with this visit that the City Hall and the unit are in tune with this Christmas spirit. It serves as a reminder that Christmas is approaching and we need more and more love, solidarity, and to participate more actively in society – explains the hospital's general director, Ivison Valverde, adding that the joy brought by actions like this contributes to the well-being of patients and their recovery.

In most health units, the beloved character will be embodied by public servant Aristóteles de Queiroz, 62, in a mission that has lasted 26 years. Since becoming the official Santa Claus of the Municipal Health Department (SMS), every year-end Ari – as he is affectionately called by his friends – has a fixed commitment on his calendar: distributing gifts and hugs to children, adults, and the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, in celebration of the arrival of Christmas.

Voluntarily, during the month of December, the coordinator of infrastructure and logistics at the Sub-Secretariat of Management dresses in the traditional red and white suit to fulfill an agenda of solidarity and affection. This year, patients at the Andaraí Hospital received, for the first time, Santa Claus portrayed by Ari.

 "It gave me butterflies in my stomach to be in a hospital like the one in Andaraí for the first time. I was anxious, but it was very good. I left feeling renewed by the interaction I had with the children, the elderly, and the healthcare professionals; it was a wonderful day. Seeing their eyes shining and knowing that the little ones improve with Santa's presence, even in such a heavy environment, is a fuel that strengthens me," emphasized the public servant, adding: "In all these social and solidarity activities, I receive much more than I am able to offer. I can stay dressed as Santa Claus in a unit for more than three hours, and even then I don't get tired. At the moment, I am filled with enormous energy."

Moments of emotion

For Márcia Vieira, 37, who is hospitalized at the Andaraí Hospital, the longing for her daughters is intense. Moments before Santa Claus entered the ward, she was emotionally fragile and being supported by a staff member. With Santa's arrival, everything became lighter.

"He brought joy and hope that I will be discharged soon and be able to see my daughters again," said the patient, emotionally.

Valéria Spazzyum arrived at the hospital to admit little Helena, just 6 months old, on the very day of Santa's visit, and the apprehension for the coming days is already starting to grow. However, the presence of the character brought a lighter atmosphere. Helena arrived at the hospital already receiving a visit and a gift from Santa Claus.

"It's very moving to feel the Christmas spirit and the calm that this character brings during this difficult time," said the mother, her hopes renewed.

In the coming weeks, Santa Claus will also be visiting other health facilities in the municipality. Among them are the Ronaldo Gazolla, Salgado Filho, and Souza Aguiar hospitals.

Volunteering for a better world

The SMS Santa Claus assures that the volunteer work he has performed in recent years has transformed his spirit and, simultaneously, filled his heart with the certainty that doing good is a two-way street paved with love for others.

"Once, at a party venue in Engenho de Dentro that brought together people being cared for in municipal shelters, I was hugged by an autistic child who, according to the professionals who were with her, had never been seen hugging anyone before," recalls Santa Claus.

Under the secret identity of a civil servant, Ari recounts that, even as a teenager, he questioned social injustice and sought to understand why human beings have to live with pain, hunger, and war. In his youth, he planned to found an NGO dedicated to helping others. Although he was unable to realize this plan, the impulse to donate some of his free time to social causes remained alive. It was then that he began volunteering in support homes for children with cancer and at the National Cancer Institute (INCA), and later, as a municipal civil servant, he extended his mission to the city's hospital network.

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December 1, 2025

Appointments: hospitals Andarai Hospital Christmas Santa Claus