Kicker: The off-season

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NICK EICHER, HOST: It’s Christmas in July!

At least it is in Denmark.

Where about three dozen professional Santas showed up from all over the world for the annual World Santa Claus Congress.

AUDIO: Norway, Sweden, England, Israel, Australia.

They marched through town., they swapped stories, they compared beards, and just generally kept one another’s spirits up, months before Christmas.

Organizer Peter Gislund—you just heard him—he says local reaction to the timing of the get-together runs the gamut.

AUDIO: The grandmas say, “Oh, it’s too early!” And the kids say, “Hooray, Santa’s here already!”

The gathering gives Pro Santas a chance to compare notes and talk shop before the holiday rush.

After all, even Santa has to do a little homework.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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