Ho-Hoing Santas Parade at World Convention

By JAN M. OLSEN

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Singing Christmas carols and bellowing ho-hos, dozens of Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses and their little elves ended the biggest ever World Santa Claus Convention in Denmark on a merry note Wednesday, voting en masse to make Christmas presents bigger.

Many of the Santas sweated profusely parading through an amusement park north of the Danish capital in their traditional winter garb in the 90-degree summer heat in this Scandinavian country.

Over the years, the event has grown from a local summer festivity into one attracting Santas from all over. This year, 171 Santas and their helpers from Scandinavia, Germany, Russia, United States and Japan attended the convention.

Beside competitions in belly shaking chuckles, the Santas also vied to decorate the best Christmas tree and trim a fir, cooling off with dips in the ocean in between debates on topics such as whether Christmas should be celebrated more on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

All but one voted to have Christmas presents increase in size – the Santa from Tokyo, Paradise Yamamoto, missed the translation and raised his hand too late although this was his eighth year at the convention.

“It is hot. One would even believe it was summer,” one Danish Santa sighed under his fake white beard before disappearing into the sea of red and white.

For the 43rd straight year, Santas gathered six months before Christmas to entertain children at the Bakken amusement park, 13 miles north of Copenhagen.

Ronald Horniblew, a retiree from Luton, Britain, who in December raises money at home for charity as a regular Santa, said the Santas also exchanged tips on improving their routines.

“There is always something to learn from other traditions, habits and culture,” said Scott Serafin, a Santa for the past 37 years in Buffalo, New York. “It’s interesting to hear what others say when they talk with children.”

In an effort to stand out, Serafin – whose turf in Buffalo includes shopping malls and companies – said he got hold of a 6.6-feet wooden spoon after seeing Danish Santas have only a simple regular-size wooden spoon stuck at their belts.

Santas are believed to use the spoon to eat porridge.

The convention also named Danish soccer player Ebbe Sand, of German club Schalke, an honorary Santa for 2006.

Sand, who was diagnosed in 1998 with the early stages of testicular cancer, was awarded the title because of his work to help children with cancer, the organizers said.