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Santa Takes A Swim July 28, 2003 So you thought that Santa Claus lived at the North Pole? Wrong! He actually lives not far away from us here in Värmland, Sweden, in a little village called Halla, together with his reindeer. In the summer, his house is almost covered over with flowers of all shapes, sizes and colours and the thermometer on the wall reflects the scorching summer temperatures. Santa made the local newspaper last week, the good old Nya Wermlands Tidningen, when the temperatures across most of southern Sweden started to go above 30 degrees – that’s plus degrees, as in hot. Very hot. Like most of us here, Santa suffered in the excessive heat, so much so that he took his first swim since the 1970’s. Complete with long white beard and his traditional red hat trimmed with white fur, Santa is pictured in the newspaper splashing happily in the local lake, looking very smart in his Santa red swimming costume. Normally in summer, he is very busy with preparations for Christmas and has no time for such luxuries as a swim, but this year the heat finally got the better of him and he took himself off to the lake. The last time I had a swim, said Santa, was back in the 1970’s and that time a crab bit me on the foot, he continued with a smile. Also known as Inge Olsson, the Värmlands Santa has an interesting second job – he runs the local car wrecking and second-hand parts car yard. Opposite his official Santa residence, and in complete contrast to the peaceful sight of his reindeer moving amongst the pine trees, you can find piles of wrecked cars, tyres, lights and other useful bits and pieces. If you are looking for a replacement headlamp for that 1990 Volvo, or an exhaust system, slightly used, for your Ford Escort then there’s a good chance that Santa can find one for you. Our Santa is the official, licensed, Värmlands Santa Claus and as such is a delegate to the official Santa Claus congress, which this year is held in the world’s oldest amusement park, just outside Copenhagen. Along with many Santa delegates from 15 other countries, Santa will spend the time debating such weighty questions as which day should Christmas actually be celebrated. Some countries celebrate Christmas on the 23rd December, other on the 25th December, but it seems that the most common day is the 24th December. The Santa congress will also ask for a master key that will fit all the houses in the world, said Santa. Traditionally we came into houses with gifts through the chimney, but nowadays so many houses have electric heating and besides, he continued, many chimneys are very sooty and that plays havoc with a white beard. Which is another point that the Värmlands Santa will raise at the congress – all Santas must have genuine beards, he said. None of these false whiskers, even if it does make for a very hot summer with a full white beard. But then, there’s always the local lake handy to take a cooling swim if it gets too hot. Hälsningar till nästa vecka, ------------ About the author: Robin Alan Bell is an Englishman by birth, but migrated to Australia back in '72. Married and divorced there. Spent the last 3 years living by myself on a remote farm in rural New South Wales with no mains electricity, water etc. All power, heating was from natural resources (solar, wind, wood). "Met" a Swedish girl on the internet, came to Sweden for a holiday, loved the place (and the girl), moved to Sweden permanently Christmas 2001 and married the girl in Easter 2002. Living happily ever after... Email Robin Alan Bell: sosoft@ozemail.com.au Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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