Advertisement

Singing Santas square off

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Singing Santas square off
Ho-ho-hauling presents is hard! Photo: DPA

Dozens of not-so-secret Santas squared off against each other Saturday, in a competition for Germany's best Santa Claus that included singing, hauling presents on a sleigh and calming excited children.

Advertisement

Forty contestants, men and women from as far away as Russia, faced off in the race in the northern town of Celle. The jolliest Santa of them all - according to the jury - was 40-year-old Reiner Kienast who managed to bring smiles to many faces.

Aside from his mastery of Christmas carols, Kienast, a native of Trier, proved his talent in Christmas tree decorating. He also eyeballed lengths of ribbon which he had to cut to specified lengths - a crucial part of every holiday season as any stressed gift giver knows.

Some 10,000 holiday-mad spectators, many of them children, crowded into the venue, organizers said. The reindeer rodeo was particularly challenging, in which the Santas, almost all clad in the requisite beard and red suit, had to stay atop a bucking mechanical reindeer as long as possible.

That competition was won by Briton Ross Antony, who collapsed laughing onto the ground after 27 seconds. Antony was the only one wearing a blue suit for the competition - and he carried off the crown in the inofficial international contest.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also