AALBORG, Denmark (AP) 鈥� While Europe’s still in the throes of summer heat, it鈥檚 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鈥檚 annual World Santa Claus Congress, a colorful midsummer tradition for decades.
First staged at an amusement park near Copenhagen in 1957, the congress moved to Aalborg on Denmark鈥檚 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 鈥� not the real one, of course! 鈥� 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.
鈥淭he grandmas say: 鈥極h, it鈥檚 too early to come here鈥�,” said organizer Peter Gislund, himself a Santa Claus in Aalborg during the Christmas season. 鈥淭he kids say: ‘Hooray! Santa鈥檚 here already’.鈥�
Christmas as a state of mind, not just a season
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 鈥� like Paradise Yamamoto from Tokyo.
鈥淭his is very fun, so many children 鈥� Ho, ho, ho!鈥� said Yamamoto with a laugh after parading through Aalborg waving a Japanese flag and dancing to the song “Feliz Navidad鈥� 鈥� one of many Christmas classics played during the event.
Robert Hercz, a 64-year-old Norwegian Santa from Oslo, said that despite their different nationalities, all Santas on hand share 鈥渁 gene鈥� 鈥� for generosity and spreading joy.
鈥淵ou have it or you don鈥檛,鈥� said Hercz, who was attending the congress for the first time. 鈥淲e have the true Santa spirit. And it鈥檚 all about giving, sharing, and putting a little bit of joy in people鈥檚 hearts.鈥�
It鈥檚 not all ho-ho-ing and belly rubs.
鈥淲hen Santas are together, they always mingle and talk a little bit,鈥� said Gislund. 鈥淢aybe I put a little bit of sparkle in the beard and so on. That鈥檚 the good part of meeting some Santas from all over the world.鈥�
For Simon Br酶ns, a 33-year-old Danish Santa, the event is proof that the festive spirit isn鈥檛 just for Christmas.
鈥淐hristmas is not a season. It鈥檚 a feeling you have in your stomach,” he said with a smile. “So if you want, you can have Christmas the whole year.鈥�
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