Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but it’s not easy believing in a “Higher Elf” when he’s so hard to find. Professional “Santa” staffing agencies report the market for mall and private Santas is running hot this holiday season because of fewer people wanting to be the bearded man in red. So much so that the traditional “elf-portrait” with your child and Kris Kringle in the North Pole may have to wait. “It’s a huge increase in demand—an unprecedented demand,” says Mitch Allen, “Head Elf” at HireSanta.com, which logged a 121 percent increase in requests in October compared to 2020. The pandemic saw business “pretty much flat.” At the same time, Allen said he sees 15 to 20 percent fewer Santas at malls and private events this holiday season. Many have either retired, or passed away, or they’ve refused to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates. “There is a shortage …