- Title: Seeing red in Michendorf: hundreds of Santas run to earn their mulled wine
- Date: 6th December 2022
- Summary: MICHENDORF, GERMANY (DECEMBER 4, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TAKING PART IN A FUN RUN DRESSED AS SANTA, RUNNING DOWN TREE-LINED STREET PERSON RUNNING SEEN FROM BEHIND (SOUNDBITE) (German) FUN RUN PARTICIPANT, MICHAEL SCHATZ, SAYING: "Yes, I'm running the Nikolauslauf (Santa run) because it's just a super nice atmosphere here in Michendorf. It's a fun run because everyone is dressed up. There are lots of red runners around you, it just looks beautiful." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN RED RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (German) FUN RUN PARTICIPANT, BERNHARD SCHULZ, FROM STUTTGART, SAYING: "Well, we're here because my sister lives here in Berlin, and she's always raved about the run. And now we just let ourselves be persuaded to take part. I have to say, the whole atmosphere here is just great." (man saying HoHoHo in the background and laughing) FUN RUN IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) FUN RUN PARTICIPANT, DORINE HENNEMANN, SAYING: "So the St. Nicholas run, ten kilometres, so is done by category, so women, female, 40 - I'm very surprised I have, first place, my category: 44 minutes, ten kilometres." HENNEMANN HOLDING UP CERTIFICATE (SOUNDBITE) (German) FUN RUN PARTICIPANT, MARIE SCHELLHORN FROM BERLIN, SAYING: "If you're lucky, you'll get a mulled wine from the nice people, residents here halfway down the path, and just have fun." VARIOUS OF SANTAS RUNNING
- Embargoed: 20th December 2022 11:37
- Keywords: Christmas Michendorf Santas funrun
- Location: MICHENDORF, GERMANY
- City: MICHENDORF, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001473106122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hundreds of Santas brought a sea of red to a small German town over the second Advent as the annual fun run converged once again on Michendorf.
And the red-robed and clothed participants are not only running to keep the chill out but to earn their mug of traditional mulled wine, handed out by bystanders.
Anyone dressed up in a Father Christmas costume is allowed to take part.
"I'm running the Nikolauslauf (Santa run) because it's just a super nice atmosphere here in Michendorf. It's a fun run because everyone is dressed up. There are lots of red runners around you, it just looks beautiful," said runner Michael Schatz.
"I have to say, the whole atmosphere here is just great," said another runner all the way from Stuttgart, Bernhard Schulz.
According to the local municipality, this is the 14th time the run has taken place, as it always does on the 2nd Advent.
The race has been on hiatus because of the Corona pandemic with some 900 participants turning up this year for a resumption of festivities.
Runners were judged by a variety of distances ranging from 2,5 to 10k, and judged in different categories, separated according to competition, gender, and age groups.
For children, there was also a one-kilometre "Zipfelmützenlauf" (elf hat race) and a relay race with a Father Christmas bag as a baton.
The start and finish were both at the Michendorf community centre with a mulled win or a chocolate Santa available for all.
(Production: Lisi Niesner, Tanja Daube, Tanya Wood) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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