Harrogate's campaign to let Santa know Christmas isn't cancelled
We're being asked to jingle a Christmas bell on our doorsteps this Christmas Eve
Last updated 6th Nov 2020
A woman from Harrogate's launched a campaign to get everyone out on their doorsteps this Christmas Eve.
Mary Beggs-Reid thought it would be a nice to have people across the town stand outside their doors on the 24th of December to ring a bell - letting Santa know Christmas isn't cancelled and he still needs to visit every home.
When asked where she got the idea from, Mary said it was from a much loved Christmas film.
She said: "It all came from the film Elf, actually. At the end when everyone comes out and sings a Christmas song to help Father Christmas fly his sleigh and build up Christmas spirit, I thought it would be great to recreate that in Harrogate after a really difficult year.
"How lovely it would be to give children something nice this year because they've not really had anything to look forward to and when they're older they can say on Christmas Eve in 2020 something amazing happened and they'll always have that positive memory."
Mary created a group on Facebook last week which has already got over 150,000 members from across the country all willing to take part.
She's been running the group with help from friends Jade, Laura, Fiona, Bonnie and Emma.
Mary added: "I know the idea was initially for the kids but the adults have loved it as well. I've had so many people that have been alone for months and they've loved they could have some kind of connection with the world again."
People are being encouraged to sing some Christmas carols afterwards so it can be heard across the town.