AALBORG, Denmark — Dozens of Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and elves from around the world gathered in the Danish city of Aalborg this week for the annual World Santa Claus Congress, transforming the height of summer into a celebration of Christmas cheer through parades, performances, and festive competitions.
Held in Denmark’s fourth-largest city, the four-day event brings together professional Santas months before the Christmas season, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas, improve their performances, and celebrate a tradition that has delighted families for decades.
The World Santa Claus Congress was first staged in 1957 at an amusement park near Copenhagen and later moved to Aalborg on the Jutland peninsula two years ago. The gathering will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, continuing a long-standing tradition that began as a children’s entertainment event and has since evolved into an international meeting for professional Santas.
Participants from Scandinavia joined visitors from countries including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, highlighting the global appeal of the annual celebration.
The congress features a packed program of family-friendly activities, including gingerbread-eating contests, gift-wrapping competitions, balloon modeling, and colorful street parades through Aalborg’s city center.
Organizer Peter Gislund, who also portrays Santa Claus during the Christmas season in Aalborg, said the event receives mixed reactions from the public because it takes place during the summer.
“The grandmas say, ‘Oh, it’s too early to come here.’ The kids say, ‘Hooray! Santa’s here already,'” Gislund told The Associated Press.
Among the participants was Paradise Yamamoto of Tokyo, who marched through Aalborg waving a Japanese flag while dancing to the Christmas classic “Feliz Navidad.” Yamamoto described the event as a joyful experience, especially seeing children enthusiastically welcoming the Santas despite the warm weather.
For Robert Hercz, a 64-year-old Santa from Oslo attending the congress for the first time, the gathering reflects a shared commitment among Santas to generosity and kindness regardless of nationality.
“We have the true Santa spirit. And it’s all about giving, sharing, and putting a little bit of joy in people’s hearts,” Hercz said.
Gislund said the congress also allows participants to exchange ideas, compare costumes and beards, and learn from one another before the busy holiday season begins.
Danish participant Simon Brøns, 33, said the congress demonstrates that the Christmas spirit extends beyond a single season.
“Christmas is not a season. It’s a feeling you have in your stomach,” Brøns said. “So if you want, you can have Christmas the whole year.”
The World Santa Claus Congress has become one of Denmark’s most distinctive cultural events, attracting visitors and media attention from around the world while promoting tourism in Aalborg during the summer months.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
