Christmas in Germany could be less delightful as many regions are suffering a severe shortage of Santas, according to recruitment agencies.

　　据招聘机构介绍，由于许多地区圣诞老人严重短缺，德国的圣诞节可能没那么美好了。

　　The Berlin Santa Claus Office, which typically receives about 2,500 bookings per year, has now fewer than 200 Santas on its books, down from 500, one of the agency’s employee Petra Henkert told German local media Der Tagesspiegel.

　　柏林圣诞老人办公室的一名员工彼特拉在接受德国当地媒体《每日镜报》采访时说，该办公室每年通常会接到约2500份圣诞老人订单，但现在登记在册的圣诞老人从500人降至不足200人。

　　"We are suffering a Santa drought," Henkert said.

　　他说，“我们面临着圣诞老人严重短缺。”

　　A student services organization in Berlin has already stopped its recruitment of Santas due to lack of candidates, it said in a statement released on the Internet.

　　柏林一家学生服务机构在网上发布的一份声明中称，由于圣诞老人候选人太少，该机构已停止招聘圣诞老人。

　　Santas in Germany are often hired by families to recite festive poems, stories and songs. The role has traditionally been considered a nice source of income for students.

　　在德国，圣诞老人通常被家庭雇佣来背诵节日诗、讲故事、唱歌。传统上，这个职位被认为是学生的一个不错的收入来源。

　　An elite Santa could usually earn 100 euros (around 113 US dollars) per visit and up to 500 euros per day.

　　一位优秀的圣诞老人通常一次能赚100欧元(约113美元)，一天甚至可收入500欧元。

　　The shortage, "particularly severe in eastern German states such as Saxony and Brandenburg, has been caused by long hours of study, the busy lives of modern students and a decline in the Christian faith," according to Britian’s daily The Times.

　　据英国《泰晤士报》报道，“萨克森州和勃兰登堡等东德州的圣诞老人短缺尤为严重，原因包括学习时间过长、现代学生生活忙碌以及基督教信仰下降。”

　　The drought has led to many desperate online pleas from local parents for a Santa to come to their rescue, The Times reported.

　　据《泰晤士报》称，圣诞老人短缺导致当地许多父母在网上渴求圣诞老人来拯救他们。

　　"If you have red robes, thick boots, a long beard and the time and inclination to visit our family on Christmas Eve we would be thrilled," one of the online pleas said.

　　“如果你穿着红长袍、厚靴子，留着长长的胡须、有时间、也愿意在圣诞前夜拜访我们家，我们会非常开心的。”其中一名网友表示。