MNN - Mother Nature Network

Let the Santa Games begin!

Pitetomten, representing the indigenous Sami people of Scandinavia, competes in the mechanical reindeer event on Nov. 17 during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gällivare, Sweden, a small Lapland town located north of the Polar Circle.

 

Santas from all over the world gather for the games to compete in a variety of events involving mechanical reindeer, porridge eating, karaoke and sack racing.

 

May the odds be ever in your favor

Pitetomten holds tight onto the mechanical reindeer on Nov. 17 while participating in Gällivare's Santa Claus Winter Games.

 

Kicksled Sack Race

Santa Holland of the Netherlands (center) takes the lead as Santa Aare of Estonia (left) and Snaretomten of Sweden compete in the Kicksled Sack Race.

 

At the end of the competion, it was Santa Holland who won the title of "Santa of the Year," with Santa Aere and Santa Rainbow of Hong Kong claiming second and third place.

 

Santas from around the world

A pair of ornately dressed Santas hailing from Japan wave to the camera on Nov. 17 before the start of the games.

 

Competition is heating up ... porridge

Santas from all over the world sit at long tables in preparation for the porridge-eating contest.

 

Mechanical reindeer

Estonian Santa Claus 'Santa Aare' cheers himself on after falling from the mechanical reindeer.