Press Release 7. juli 2009
More than 50 years of tradition continues this summer when official Santa’s from around the globe join the World Santa Claus Congress 2009 July 20-22, 2009 at Dyrehavsbakken, Copenhagen, Denmark.
More than 50 years of tradition continues this summer when official Santa’s from around the globe join the World Santa Claus Congress 2009. For the 52nd consecutive year this stunning event takes place at Dyrehavsbakken – the world’s oldest amusement park – from July 20-22. More than 150 Santa’s are expected to join the congress with their spouses and elves.
Romantic prelude to this year’s congress
This year the event starts with a spectacular wedding of a young Santa-couple. Last year at the final open air stage show, one of the ‘helping Santa’s’ – Rune Jamrath - suddenly fell down on his knees and proposed to the bride of his choice – Sine Andersen (who is daughter of Bakken’s Pjerrot). She said ‘Yes’, and the wedding will take place in front of Pjerrot’s House at Bakken, Monday the 20th of July at 11.00 a.m. as a romantic prelude to this year’s congress.
How it started
The World Santa Claus Congress was born in 1957 when the legendary multi-artist and entertainer Professor Tribini got the idea to invite Santa Clauses of the world to Copenhagen to celebrate Christmas in July. Since then the event has taken place every year in July at Dyrehavsbakken (Bakken) in Klampenborg, 15 kilometres north of the Danish capital Copenhagen.
Passionate debates
During the years the World Santa Claus Congress has been visited by Santa’s from every continent on the planet. The congress has dealt with several important issues such as deciding the official date of Christmas, the size of official Santa spoons, standardization of chimneys, weight regulations for Santa Clauses, etc. The debates have been passionate and the decisions many.
Activities
During the World Santa Claus Congress the Santa’s are involved in many public activities as well. From stage performances to photo opportunities, from public Christmas cake baking to storytelling for the children and parades through the streets of Dyrehavsbakken, from the annual Santa foot bath in the sea to the traditional parade through the city centre of Copenhagen.
Important issue
This year the event includes a spectacular bicycle ride from central Copenhagen to the Town Hall of Frederiksberg. The purpose of the ride is to signal, that the world’s Santa’s are attentive to their own healthiness and also to the climate debate and the efforts to prevent global warming and climate changes.
