Global InformationDavid Zancai information
David Zancai | |
|---|---|
 David Zancai posing as Zanta | |
| Born | May 7, 1968 |
| Occupation | Busker |
| Years active | 2000 - at least 2016 [1] |
David Zancai (born May 7, 1968[2][3][4]) is a street entertainer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Zancai is known for his character Zanta: a modified Santa Claus who travels the streets of downtown Toronto doing pushups and shouting "yes yes yes" and "Merry Christmess".[4] His costume consists of nothing but shorts, boots, and a red-and-white Santa hat, even during Toronto's winters. He claims to perform this routine every day of the year except Christmas Day, and estimates he does 2,000 to 3,000 pushups per day.[3] In 2000, Zancai fell 25 feet onto a staircase while working as a painter. He entered treatment for schizophrenia at St. Joseph's hospital, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder earlier in 2003.[5] Zancai has received mixed responses to his Zanta character, and has been banned from several public areas around Toronto, including the Toronto Transit Commission.[6]
- ^ "Complaints about behaviour won't get riders banned: TTC". Toronto Sun. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Israel, Samantha (2007-02-17). "The Zanta Clause". The National Post. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ a b McLaren, Leah (2005-04-30). "Who is that capped man? Meet Zanta Ho Ho". The Globe and Mail. p. M1. Archived from the original on 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
npwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "What ever happened to Toronto's Santa-hat wearing shirtless Zanta?". The Toronto Star. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015.
- ^ "Where's the line between mental illness and sexual harassment?". TVO.org. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2020-08-29.