AALBORG, Denmark — Summer heat may be gripping much of Europe, but one Danish city is already decked out in holiday cheer.
The city of Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth-largest, has welcomed dozens of Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and elves from countries around the globe for the annual World Santa Claus Congress — a beloved midsummer tradition that has been running for decades.
The congress originally launched at an amusement park near Copenhagen back in 1957, later relocating to Aalborg on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula two years ago. This year, the iconic red suits proved to be quite warm under the bright Danish summer sun.
Next year, the event will celebrate its 70th anniversary. While it was originally designed to delight children, it has since grown into a beloved gathering for professional Santas who spend the holiday season working in stores and shopping centers.
The multi-day event gives those professional Santas — not the real one, of course — an opportunity to trade stories, compare beards, refine their skills, and take part in fun-filled competitions, all well before the holiday rush begins.
The busy schedule includes activities such as gingerbread eating, gift wrapping, balloon shaping, and several lively parades through the city streets.
Organizer Peter Gislund, who himself plays Santa Claus in Aalborg during the Christmas season, described the mixed reactions from locals. “The grandmas say: ‘Oh, it’s too early to come here,’” he noted. “The kids say: ‘Hooray! Santa’s here already.’”
Over the years, the four-day gathering has drawn participants from as far as Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. Most of the roughly three dozen Santas and Mrs. Clauses attending this week came from Scandinavia, but some made the trip from much farther away — including Paradise Yamamoto, who flew in from Tokyo.
After marching through Aalborg waving a Japanese flag and dancing to “Feliz Navidad” — one of several Christmas classics featured throughout the event — Yamamoto summed up the experience simply: “This is very fun, so many children … Ho, ho, ho!”
Robert Hercz, a 64-year-old Santa from Oslo, Norway, said that despite coming from different corners of the world, all the Santas present share something special — what he calls “a gene” for generosity and spreading happiness.
“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.”
But it’s not all laughter and belly rubs. The gathering also gives Santas a rare chance to connect with one another and pick up a few tricks of the trade.
“When Santas are together, they always mingle and talk a little bit,” Gislund said. “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.”
For 33-year-old Danish Santa Simon Brøns, the congress is living proof that the holiday spirit doesn’t need to be confined to December.
“Christmas is not a season. It’s a feeling you have in your stomach,” he said with a grin. “So if you want, you can have Christmas the whole year.”
