Santa’s little gulpers

He knows when you've been sleeping and knows when you're awake. He even knows if you've been bad or good. But as SantaCon 2012 revealed at the weekend, that doesn't necessarily mean the big man in the red suit is good for goodness' sake.

"Some drunk Santa ordered a burger and owes payment," shouts Anne Trinh, 26, general manager of Gulou bar 4 Corners, over the venue's PA system. "If you don't come and claim it, I will eat it myself," she threatens, half-jokingly yet with a hint of annoyance.

A loud cheer erupts from the crowd of Santas, whose faces look almost as red as their suits, in acknowledgement of the announcement.

Running of the Santas

Around 150 people, mostly expats, took part in the fifth edition of Beijing's version of the annual global event SantaCon on Saturday. The day is essentially an excuse for a mass gathering of Santa Claus look-alikes more intent on visiting bars than homes to deliver presents.

SantaCon requires two groups of revelers to meet in the middle of the city for a group photo after traveling, sans reindeers, from starting points at opposite ends.

In keeping with the event's tradition in Beijing, one of these points was at Wudaokou in the city's northwest Haidian district. The other was this year at Sanlitun bar Brussels, in southeast Chaoyang district.

Metro Beijing joined the merriment of sodden Saint Nicks at 4 Corners in Dashibei Hutong, Xicheng district, around 8 pm. This year's meeting in the middle was at Chill Café Bar, another Gulou bar located a tipsy stumble from 4 Corners.

"It's great. It's my first time, actually. I heard that it ends at [Gulou bar] Dada. Do you know? This band is great, isn't it? Do you know the rules? Here let me show you," offered Martin Butz, a 24-year-old bartender and teacher originally from Mainz, Germany.

Slumped in a chair and inebriated, yet unquestionably jolly, Butz talks loudly so that he can be heard over the pulsating crowd and loud music emanating from the live band on stage.

He alludes to an e-mail on his smartphone with the subject line: "SantaCon is coming to town on December 8th."

Instructions for partakers include strict rules of attire, according to the e-mail. "Santa suits, elf attire, reindeer gear and holiday apparel," it reads.

Making spirits rise

Observing the swelling crowd in the small bar, it seems everyone has made a valiant effort to suit up appropriately for the night.

The band is in full swing, but the scores of red, bobbled Santa hats inevitably obstructs a clear line of sight toward the stage.　

"In the end, it's just a bunch of drunken Westerners having a good time and spreading good vibes," Butz concludes.

But what does he make of locals' reactions to the bizarre sight of suited Santas roaming the city from bar to bar?　

"There were a lot of Chinese people saying 'Merry Christmas' to us in Chinese along the way. That makes me feel good. Locals were pointing and laughing at us. We thought it was funny," he said.

The general consensus from Chinese near the festive gathering was one of wonderment. There was not a hint of negativity toward those taking part.

Peering in briefly on the merry scene through the window of the bar, 21-year-old student and Wuhan native Han Lin was amazed, to say the least.

"What are they doing? Why are they all dressed up like that?" she enquired.

Tavey Lin, 29, the American owner of 4 Corners and one of the main organizers of this year's SantaCon, had a simple answer to explain the hijinks mixed with slurred cries of "ho, ho, ho."

"We're doing this because we're away from our home countries and in our home countries we make a big deal about Christmas. I try not to worry too much about what it might all mean," said Lin, who originally is from Texas.

Lin said this year's SantaCon was the biggest yet in Beijing.

"We talked to the bars to make sure that people participating in SantaCon would receive good deals. I just tried to carry on the legacy of past years," he said.

This year marked the first time SantaCon in Beijing embraced the spirit of Christmas by giving, with 2,300 yuan ($370) raised from sales of Santa suits donated to the charity Bethel, which supports the blind and orphans in China.　

Most Santas on the 'nice list'

Saturday's event also managed to avoid any trouble that in the past has dampened, if not marred, the SantaCon festive spirit.

In December 2010, more than 100 revelers dressed as Santa Claus were booted out of Tiananmen Square as they posed for a group photo.

Lin said a foreign journalist on that occasion tried to "get arrested" after confronting police as they attempted to disperse the SantaCon crowd.

Since then, Lin points out SantaCon in Beijing has avoided "high-profile locations" in the city to ensure it doesn't cause any trouble with authorities.

Lin is quick to point out that while SantaCon is all about having fun en masse, Santas are encouraged to always respect the laws of the city.

SantaCon in Beijing, like in many other countries where it is held, has a simple goal: to have fun and to drink.

SantaCon Beijing's mission statement on its website states that it is a "non-commercial, non-political, non-religious and non-sensical Santa Claus convention" held for "absolutely no reason."

Asked if he would participate again next year, Butz managed to slur "of course" in between hiccups.

"Why not? It's fun and nobody takes it too seriously. Plus everybody looks ridiculous," he said.