As ’tis the season to be jolly, I bring to you “SantaCon London 2012“, a job that was designed purely by camera testers, with the aim of seeing just how far you can blow the red channel of your camera.
Having started the day with a much more serious story, it was quite an about-turn to end my shift dodging incoming sprouts from a herd of Santi in Trafalgar Square.
SantaCon is an annual mass gathering of people dressed in Father Christmas costumes, getting hammered in cities around the world. While it’s essentially a giant pub crawl, many of those involved like to get in the spirit and carry bags of sweets around to dish out to the confused kids that they pass in the streets. It’s not that hard to see why some of the kids were confused with beardless, pimp, orthodox jew, semi-naked and even chicken Santas taking part.
On the day itself, three twitter accounts went live, directing three separate groups of Santas to various locations and pubs throughout the day. The downside to this is that while the idea is to be spontaneous, as more alcohol is consumed, the tweets become more sporadic and less informative. This makes life a little harder for the sober photographer who’s trying to track these elusive scarlet pimpernels. The best bet seems to be to loiter in Trafalgar Square, and wait for them to descend on you.
While scurrying between groups, I also found the Santa schism. It seems the hardcore FCs that have been doing the SantaCon for years look down on the sprout hurling newbies that gather in Trafalgar Square. To be fair, it wasn’t that much fun covering the Trafalgar sprout onslaught as, uncooked, they’re essentially as hard as stones. It was like being back in the West Bank!
So all that leaves me to say is Happy Christmas! I hope 2013 brings you all accurate light readings, dust-free sensors and top-notch personal projects!
Merry Christmas, my liege!
Cheers bud! You’ll be pleased to know we’ll be neighbours soon. AFP is moving to London Wall in the new year!
Ho Ho Ho!
Happy Christmas to you and your’s Leon.
My mate Ed was there somewhere, you can’t have missed him, he was dressed as Santa Claus…
What…?
A santa with a Honey Monster head PERFECT x
@Jim – Cheers captain! You’d have made a cracking Santa…
@Rebecca – Yup, he was one of my faves, along with the Orthodox Jew.
Could have done without all those speedos but looks like a lot of fun! Why do I never know about events like this?!? This is what comes of leaving the city for the country. Boredom.
Have a merry [insert appropriate-to-beliefs generic holiday greeting here]!
What fun to be had in the capital. Merry Xmas.
(Puts my weary santa to shame: http://www.sandehalynch.com/xmas/xmas_12.htm
)
@Miles – To be honest, I didn’t know about it myself until that morning. It’s been going for years apparently. Next year, I’ll have anti-sprout body armour…
@Sandeha – Ha! I’m sure a few of the Santas were feeling like that by the evening!
This finally makes sense! We drove past this gathering and my 3yr old Granddaughters face was a picture as she gazed out of the car window. Perhaps next year I’ll be more prepared.
Ha! Yeah, it would be quite a sight if you weren’t expecting it!