Woooooo hooooo! Christmas is coming! It is just around the corner! Not only have I already heard my first Christmas song this month, today starts the 2013 World Santa Claus Congress at Bakken, world’s oldest amusement park!
This is one of those things that endears me to Denmark. How can you not love it when the Big White-Bearded Guy with all the toys comes to Copenhagen in the heat of summer?
Christmas in July Worldwide
Right now in the USA, some radio stations are playing a Christmas song in honor of the phrase “Christmas in July” and some stores are having a “Christmas in July” sale,
In the southern hemisphere, June, July and August as winter months. That means in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa they must make a special effort in July to ensure that Christmas is “rightly celebrated with a wintery feel”. In the northern hemisphere some nightclubs and people go all out., throwing parties and other celebrtions that includes gifts, ice cream and other cold food foods.
The origins of Christmas in July go back to the late 19th century. The 1892 opera Werther (based Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther) featured a group of children rehearsing a Christmas song in July, and one character responds, “When you sing Christmas in July, you rush the season.” That is a direct translation of It is a translation of a French song which says, “Vous chantez Noël en juillet… c’est s’y prendre à l’avance.”
The earliest known occasion the phrase was used is in the USA, in July 1933 at North Carolina’s Camp Keystone, a girl’s summer camp, where they celebrated with a Christmas tree, gifts, and a visit by Santa Claus. Two years later, in 1935, the National Recreation Association’s journal Recreation described what a Christmas in July was like at a girl’s camp, writing that “all mystery and wonder surround this annual event.”
Enter, Hollywood
It was, however, when the glitz and glamour of Hollywood embraced the concept that Christmas in July exploded with the 1940 release of the comedy film Christmas in July. In the film, a man (played by actor Dick Powell) is tricked into believing he has won $25,000. Before learning the truth and because he has (allegdly) won the contest and money, his boss gives him a huge promotion, new office and a raise; he then spends the money lavishly (all on credit), buying gifts for family, friends and neighbors, and proposing marriage to his girlfriend (played by actress Ellen Drew). This film also led to the phrase being associated with receiving unexpected blessings.
Churches and the federal government (the military and the U.S. Post Office. also joined the celebrations with worship services, radio broadcasts special luncheons and calls for early mailing to overseas members of the military.
The Mad Man crowd, or advertising industry in the USA, began using “Christmas in July” as a marketing theme to boost lackluster summertime sales when tended to dip after Fourth of July. Today in the United States, it is more often used as a marketing tool than an actual holiday. That development brings a connection between American and Danish cultural traditions: Denmark has it big summer sales in July, when you can get great discounts on goods, some as high as 70%. These sales are fantastic! Look for yellow signs and the word “slutspurt” in store windows!
But the real star of the party, whether you call him Father Christmas, Santa Claus or Kris Kringle, is in Copenhagen every July. Today they get a welcome at Copenhagen City Hall and then they head north out of the city to Bakken amusement park for two days of celebrations — including a swim in the sea!
The History
The World Santa Claus Congress started as a idea conceived in 1958 by a well-known Danish mountebank (another word for a charlatan who charmingly attracts and deceives others) character associated with the circus at Bakken. His name was Professor Tribini. He announced a plan to gather all the Santa Clauses of the world so they could decide when Christmas would be in Denmark. Each year they discuss what it will be…and so far have chosen the same date every year. Now, the conference has become real world event.
For over 50 years, Santa Clauses (that is what I call him) from around the world each year flock to Copenhagen to hold their annual “World Santa Claus Congress.” For three days, in the middle of summer heat, there Christmas-in-July at Bakken with all the trimmings.
The main purpose of the Congress is to establish the date of Christmas Eve this year, but the days also offer Christmas show at the Open Air Stage, a Christmas parade through the Bakken streets (including those nifty nisse!!) and delightful, funny performances by the talented pixie children from Eventyrteatret.
Good Or Bad?
Wherever you believe that the real Santa Claus come from, then there is a good chance that you can meet him at Bakken. And if you have been good in the past year, you can safely bring your wish list and deliver it in person at the amusement park July 22-24.
I do not know about you, but I have been a very good girl, and I want lots of good stuff in my Christmas stocking and under the Christmas tree this year, so I am hurrying over with my list!
2013 World Santa Clause Congress Program (Danish, but can be translated by your browser)
You can find the Christmas in July DVD in the USA here:
and if you live in Denmark or the EU, you can find it here:
You better watch out !
You better not cry!
Better not pout!
I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town….
Well, no, he is already here!
Merry Christmas in July!