Snow joke for summer Santas

Updated 11.18 Wed Jul 23 2008
Keywords: global warming, Merry, present, congress, festive, Christmas, Santa, sleigh, Claus

More than 150 Father Christmases have gathered in Denmark for a Santa Claus Congress.

The three-day annual summer festival took place in the world's oldest amusement park Dyrehavsbakken, near the capital Copenhagen.

Increased awareness of the health risks of obesity has prompted the Santas to take part in a bicycle ride and other sporting events to send out the message that being jolly doesn't mean you can't stay in shape

This year's summit saw the Santas discuss important issues facing their profession such as plans for weight regulations.

Increased awareness of the health risks of obesity has prompted the Santas to take part in a bicycle ride and other sporting events to send out the message that being jolly doesn't mean you can't stay in shape.

Other topics up for discussion are international tax rules on presents, the standardisation of chimneys and the thorny issue of exactly when presents should be delivered.

Another problem facing the Santas is global warming.

Douglas Gowin from the United States said: "Of course if there is no polar ice cap, I do not know how easy it will be to get the sleigh off the ground, and that will tend to worry a few children."

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