The 51st Santa Klaus and Father Frost World Congress
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petrozavodsk.rfn.ru.
The name of the second summer month and "Christmas" in Danish sounds equally: "Juli". That is why in July here, to Copenhagen, there come Santa Clauses from all over the world and Grandfathers Frosts from Russia for their World Congress.
Twice in semicentenial history of such meetings Russia was presented at the Congress. Both times honour of the snow-white beard was defended by Grandfathers Frosts from our republic. This year the Karelian Grandfather Frost has come there with a bear.
The "Russian bear" word combination is understood even without translation. Ours' was called "Grandfather Frost - the Gracefilness". Why - the citizen of Petrozavodsk Alexey Tsarkov has explained himself:
- Middle age of Santa Clauses here is about 70 years, and their weight … I'm quite sure that all their bellies are real.
At the congress Russia was presented by Karelia
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Tourists, having caught the sight of the Russian flag, approached our Frost.
- The first day of heat - specially for Grandfathers Frosts, - tourist Yulia Broida is happy about good weather. - It's great to meet Petrozavodsk people in the streets of Copenhagen!
Santa Clauses and summer: it is time when the holiday buzz of preparation of gifts has not begun yet. There is time to talk to each other. And to compete. Including, and at the competition of voice signals by which children recognise the wizard.
In his life Santa Henrik is the main jailer of Copenhagen. By birth - he's the chief Danish Santa Claus and chairman of the World Union of good wizards. Who is to head the procession but him?
140 Santa Clauses from 12 countries of the world came to the 51st congress - from America to Japan. This year they were supposed to fly by bicycles on the central streets of Copenhagen in the 30-degree heat. The first on the finish was Yamomoto from Japan. Santa Claus from the Country of the Rising Sun comes here for the fifth time.
Douglas Godwin (Santa Claus by passport), the USA
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A delegate from the USA used to have a name of Douglas Godwin. However now he is a real Santa Claus. It is written in his passport. Has changed his name five years ago. Has came to the congress - and has shown all other Santas how to swim long distances. The more so, that this is the way Santas like to cool down: the average Santa's suit is quite heavy.
This is my summer suit, as winter one weighs approximately 50 pounds. It is two large suitcases, filled by clothes, - Douglas Godwin, Santa Claus from the USA, has told.
- Is your beard real? - the correspondent asked.
- Yes, indeed.
Santa Clauses have intense time ahead: they will prepare gifts and sleighs, so that in winter every child receives a gift. And in summer they will come to Denmark again...
P.S. One may have an impression, that fantastic characters gathered in Copenhagen from all over the world only to see the Little Mermaid and bathe, like Russian commandoes, in local fountains. The 51st World Congress Santa Clauses and Fathers Frosts has raiosed serious and topical problems, like: introduction of special air "corridors" for deer sleighs and expansion of chimneys (as you known, this is the way bearded men in red caftans get into houses). However, yet we have no information about any resolutions accepted… - Comments made by the Internet-editor.
Alexy Gavrilov, Vesti-Karelia
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