Christmas in July – Demark’s Fun Celebration – World Santa Congress!

Denmark is famous for its annual Christmas in July festival known as the ‘World Santa Congress’.  It’s a fun event you want to put on your holiday list.  It attracts visitors and media coverage from around the world.  It is held over three days in the town of Bakkan at the world’s oldest theme park ‘ Dyrehavsbakken’.  It’s a time for celebration, fun, charity, merry-making and even a magical gnome wedding one year!

Santas, Mrs Clauses, elves and pixies from all nationalities gather for networking and merry-making.  There are lots of games including chimney climbing and a famous Santa bike ride through Denmark (see a video here http://youtu.be/JrEMu5C7fqw).  Entertainment also includes competitions, charity events, parades through the streets of Copenhagen and a big Christmas gala show. 

A highlight of the event is the crowning of the new King Santa each year as well as a new Pixie or Nisse each year.  In 2010 there was much excitement as the first female, Mrs Claus, was crowned Santa King.  There is a World Championship contest held for Santas, as well as Christmas cake baking and fun dancing round the Christmas Tree for Santas, Mrs Clauses and elves.  The Congress provides entertainment by and for Santas including parties and dinners as well as  charity events for disadvantaged children.

For the history buffs, the first Christmas in July Congress was held in 1957 when legendary entertainer at Bakken, Professor Tribini, felt that Christmas should come more than once a year and thus created Christmas in July World Santa Congress.  An event that nowadays attracts 200 plus Santas, Mrs Clauses and Elves as well as audiences of many thousands who enjoy the event.

The day before World Santa Claus Congress starts, the Danish Santa Claus Guild also hold their annual convention at the Santa Moot in the Elf Wood at Bakken where it is Christmas all year long. Here you will find Santa’s house, a beautiful decorated Christmas tree and a fun Santa obstacle course for laughs and merry-making.

First Wedding at Santa Congress Denmark!
Rune Jamrath, a member of the Board of the Danish Santa Clause Association, in 2009, dressed in his red gnome outfit, with his bride to be dressed in glorious red, were the first Congress couple to be married at the festival.  At the wedding was 150 Santas from around the world including Canada, USA, Japan, Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, England and of course Denmark.  The wedding was built up as a fairy tale, where Hans Christian Andersen read a story about two gnomes who fell in love and were married.  A stunning video of this magical wedding can be viewed at http://youtu.be/6o_aXsHZivM