Santacon London describes itself as “a non-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-sensical Christmas parade.” For the past few years the event has taken place one Saturday every December. Here people dress up in Santa suits, run around, sometimes give gifts to strangers, sing songs, and make merry.
For the 2015 event several thousand Santas descended to Trafalgar Square, in central London. Most were clad in the traditional red and white costumes (some looking better made and in a better state of repair than others); aside from these, there were a few blue and green variants.
When Digital Journal’s roving reporter went past the event in mid-afternoon all seemed good natured and the festively dressed participants proved popular with the various passers by and tourists.
Some were singing carols; others were singing new songs from lyric sheets passed around by the festival organizers. For example, one song titled Jingle Tills went:
Jingle Tills, Jingle Tills
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to spend
Our hard earned Christmas pay!
Dashing through the stores
Sweating all the way
Oh what fun it is to spend
Our hard earned Christmas pay!
At this stage all seemed merry.
When this reporter returned to the area at 6 p.m. the majority of the Santas had departed. A group remained in the center of Trafalgar Square, climbing onto the assembly of monuments that surround Nelson’s column (and close to the traditional Christmas tree, donated each year to London from the Norwegian government.)
A few straggler Santas nearby seemed a little worse for wear, swigging from cans of cheap lager and chanting loudly. A few families with children crossed the road. Further down, a couple got into a scuffle, causing a police van, which was probably parked nearby, to accelerate to the scene. A couple of would-be Santas were bundled into the van.
Away from Trafalgar Square, in Covent Garden, a group of about fifty Santas occupied the area outside of the market and shops, appearing to be drinking heavily. Bottles and cans were discarded around them. This led, according one passer-by I spoke to, “turned an area that is always family friendly into somewhere I’d want to avoid.”
Admittedly, this view will not be shared by everyone and Covent Garden is a well-known spot for partying. However, around 6.30 p.m. in the evening there are many families with young children about and a little toning down of the revelry and holding back a little with the open area drinking would be more respectful.
To expand further, clearly nobody wants to be a killjoy, and the idea of dressing up and making merry in the build-up to the holiday season is fun; however, once the main event is over it is time to depart. Drinking to excess on the streets, whether in Christmas attire or not, impacts on other people and sometimes it is best to “call it a day” when it is daylight and not fester on into the evening. Other events in big cities seem to pass better, if the longest running event, which has been held in San Francisco since 1994 is anything to go by.
