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This article was first published 13 years ago

In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here

Last updated on: December 24, 2010 17:21 IST


Photographs: Rebecca Cook/Reuters

Remember that stocky guy with a white beard in a red outfit on a reindeer-pulled sleigh? Yes, he is back again. As the spirit of Christmas warms up wintery nights of December, millions await their Christmas gifts from their dear old Santa. Some say he stays at the South Pole, other believe he is from Finland. Whatever the legend may be, he remains one of the most awaited guests at most households around the world.

Alas, there are quite a few modern-day wannabe Santas. Let's take a look at some of them.

A
member of the Detroit Pistons 'Flight Crew' dunk team, wearing a Santa suit, flips upside down before dunking a ball during a time-out in the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in Auburn Hills, Michigan December 23, 2009.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Christian Charisius/Reuters
A man dressed as Santa Claus wakeboards in Hamburg.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A German Bundeswehr army soldier with the Delta platoon of the 2nd paratroop company 373 wearing a Santa Claus costume stands atop an armoured vehicle before leaving the army camp for a mission in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters
A man dressed as Father Frost, the Russian equivalent to Santa Claus, makes a bungee jump from a bridge across the Yenisei River in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Reuters
A staff member dressed as Santa Claus rides an ostrich during a performance to attract visitors at a zoo in Wuhan, Hubei province.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Raj Patidar/Reuters
People dressed up as Santa Claus enjoy a water scooter ride in a lake ahead of Christmas celebrations in Bhopal.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
A diver in a Santa Claus outfit performs with a guitar at a promotional drive for the upcoming Christmas holiday season at the Coex aquarium in Seoul. Christmas is the season of high prices in South Korea, where many businesses try to make a few extra won on one of the country's biggest date nights of the year -- Christmas Eve.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Christian Charisius/Reuters
Former marine officer Ulf Ingo van Bruinehsen dressed as Santa Claus, waves from the U15 submarine of the German navy as they arrive at the submarine base of Eckernfoerde, northern Germany. Santa Claus distributed presents to pupils of an Eckernfoerde primary school.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

A man dressed as Santa Claus waves from a motorcycle during the annual meeting of the "rent-a-Santa Claus" service at Berlin's Universities. Some 300 Santas who take part in the service will visit families, business Christmas parties or other events. They charge 28 euros per visit - or 56 euros if they bring an angel with them.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
A man dressed as Father Christmas poses for photographers outside Harrods, in central London. The photocall was to launch the store's Christmas World department.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: David Moir/Reuters
Runners dressed in Santa Claus costumes exercise in a gym during a photocall to publicise the forthcoming Great Scottish Santa Run in Edinburgh, Scotland

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Casper Christoffersen/Reuters
A man dressed as Santa Claus pushes his colleague in a wheelchair as they, and others in fancy dress costumes arrive for the World Santa Claus Congress 2010, at the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen.  More than 150 Santas from all over the world convened for the 52nd Congress.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Reuters
A student dressed in a Santa Claus costume to celebrate Christmas, practises taekwondo at a sports school in Suining, Sichuan province.

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Reuters
A student dressed in a Santa Claus costume to celebrate Christmas, trains at a sports school in Suining, Sichuan province

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In PHOTOS: Whacky, thrill-seeking Santas are here


Photographs: Yuri Gripas/Reuters
A man dressed as Santa Claus water skis as he performs on the Potomac River in National Harbor outside Washington

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