While Europe's still in the throes of summer heat, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Danish city of Aalborg. Dozens of Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves from around the world have descended on Denmark's fourth-largest city for the Nordic nation's annual World Santa Claus Congress, a colorful midsummer tradition for decades.
Congress History and Activities
First staged at an amusement park near Copenhagen in 1957, the congress moved to Aalborg on Denmark's Jutland peninsula two years ago. This year, the Santa suits looked a little stifling under the Danish summer sun. The event, which marks its 70th anniversary next year, was created to entertain children, but became a popular gathering for Santas who appear in stores and shopping malls during the Yuletide season.
The gathering offers a chance for professional Santas to swap stories, compare beards, sharpen their craft and compete in lighthearted contests months before anyone checks naughty-or-nice lists for the Christmas rush. The packed agenda features events like gingerbread eating, gift wrapping, balloon modeling, and several noisy parades.
Global Participation
Over the years, the annual four-day gathering has attracted Santas and Mrs. Clauses from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and the United States. Most of the three dozen or so Santas and Mrs. Clauses at the congress this week hail from Scandinavia, but some flew in — like Paradise Yamamoto from Tokyo.
"This is very fun, so many children … Ho, ho, ho!" said Yamamoto with a laugh after parading through Aalborg waving a Japanese flag and dancing to the song "Feliz Navidad" — one of many Christmas classics played during the event.
Santa Spirit and Camaraderie
Robert Hercz, a 64-year-old Norwegian Santa from Oslo, said that despite their different nationalities, all Santas on hand share "a gene" — for generosity and spreading joy. "You have it or you don't," said Hercz, who was attending the congress for the first time. "We have the true Santa spirit. And it's all about giving, sharing, and putting a little bit of joy in people's hearts."
"When Santas are together, they always mingle and talk a little bit," said organizer Peter Gislund, himself a Santa Claus in Aalborg during the Christmas season. "Maybe I put a little bit of sparkle in the beard and so on. That's the good part of meeting some Santas from all over the world."
Christmas as a State of Mind
For Simon Brøns, a 33-year-old Danish Santa, the event is proof that the festive spirit isn't just for Christmas. "Christmas is not a season. It's a feeling you have in your stomach," he said with a smile. "So if you want, you can have Christmas the whole year."
