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American Morning

Summer Santas on Parade in Denmark

Aired July 25, 2001 - 09:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The calendar does still say July. But for some people, it's not too early to start spreading that Christmas cheer.

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Especially if they have a white beard and wear a red suit.

CNN's Denise Dillon reports on a Santa summit under way now in Denmark.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENISE DILLON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Christmas cheer filled the streets of Copenhagen, as more than 150 Santa Clauses marched in a parade at the 38th annual Santa Claus Convention.

They come from all over the world.

UNIDENTIFIED SANTA: A merry Christmas from Canada. Hi!

DILLON: Sure, it's only July, but they've got a lot of work to do between and now December. Official figures from the Santa Convention announced that all of the Santas put together distribute a total of 500,000 tons of presents, using more than 360,000 reindeer.

So what does it take to be a Santa?

UNIDENTIFIED SANTA: You have to have a good ho, ho, ho, ho! You've got to be fond of children. And you have got to have (SPEAKING IN DANISH) as we call in Danish. And that's Christmas spirit.

DILLON: There's also the spirit of love in the air. The Norwegian Santa met a Santa's helper at a convention in Norway last year and decided there's no better place than here to make her his Mrs. Claus.

UNIDENTIFIED SANTA: We had a little dream doing it, like we are doing now. And that's the way. This is the place. This is the surrounding. This is everything.

DILLON: Between the festivities, there was official Santa business conducted. They discussed Christmas issues, Santa duties, individual cultures and the importance of their roles in various countries. While there are some differences in their traditions and dress, the main principle is always the same -- the directive sent down by the main Santa at the North Pole: Only the good little boys and girls get gifts from Santa on Christmas morning.

Denise Dillon, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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