Denmark’s Santa Claus Congress: Christmas in July

Participants, wearing Santa Claus and pixies costums, dance around the Christmas tree on the second day of the World Santa Claus Congress 2009 in Copenhagen on July 21, 2009. (Casper Christoffersen/AFP/Getty Images)

Three days of merrymaking in the world’s oldest amusement park ended July 21, in Denmark. The 53rd annual World Santa Claus Congress brought thousands of spectators and over 200 Santas, elves, and elf mothers from Japan, Germany, the United States, Sweden, U.K., Spain, Norway, and the Netherlands.

The three days of cheer included a Christmas gala show, charity events, parades through the streets of Copenhagen, a Santa World Championship, Christmas cake baking, and dancing around the Christmas tree.

For the jolly St. Nicks, the congress was also a business affair where they discussed regulations and standards for their trade. The congress is held every year on the Monday-Wednesday before July 24.