Huzzah! to the Kringle Royals!

This year's World Santa Claus Congress at Bakken would have featured a significant milestone: the 25th Anniversary Gathering of das Dansk Julemands Laug --- the Danish Santa Claus Guild. As we explained earlier in "King of the Kiddies, Revisited," 24 Very Important Santas and their Helpers have been bestowed with an honor reserved for a chosen few. What follows is a visual tribute to the finest Clauses to be honored with the regalia of the Kringle Royals of the World Santa Claus Congress. Enjoy!

1996:
Ole Lundgaard,
Founder of das Dansk Julemands Laug.
1997:
Erik Hansen,
who dedicated his reign to Santa's mind and heart.
1999:
Anne-Lise Hansen,
who wrote birthday cards to all the Guild's members.
First of the "Kringle Queens."
2000:
John Just,
who launched the Guild's initiative of staging Christmas Tree Parties
for Denmark's disabled and/or disadvantaged children.
2001:
Frank Clausen,
who prepared the Guild
for its first-ever visit
to the Barrels' Christmas Market.
2003:
Kjeld Kristensen,
who coordinated the first Christmas Tree Party
for the children of the Jyllander region.
2004:
Kurt A. Hansen,
member of the Guild's Board of Directors.
2005:
Jorgen Jespersen,
the Guild's Secretary of the Board of Directors;
also chosen "for his duties as one of the Guild's standard-bearers."
2006:
Henrik Jacobsen,
Alderman of the Guild,
for his tenure with the group
during which he founded its Gnome Guild,
as well as designing the local hospital's official teddy bear.
2007:
Peter Gislund,
for planning and coordinating the Guild's 2008 Annual General Meeting;
and for making arrangements
for all who attended the event in his hometown of Skagen.
2008:
Peter Norgaard,
"who always kept the entertainment top-notch!"
2009:
Olavi Niikanoff,
for his years of involvement
with Christmas Tree Parties for those children
suffering from diabetes and other afflictions.
2010:
Anne-Lise Hansen-Jacobsen,
who launched a separate Christmas Guild in 1994,
and has since remained active in the parent Guild's activities.
Third of the Kringle Queens.
2011:
Villy Brinkbaek,
the Guild's longtime Deputy Alderman,
and veteran of its Board of Directors.
2012:
"Gorm" Bjelke Sandstrom,
for his own distinguished contributions to the Guild.
2013:
Allan Hendley,
President of das Dansk Julemands Laug,
and member of its Board of Directors.
2014:
Helle Jacobsen,
wife of Henrik, collector of Kringle trinkets;
member of the Guild's Board of Directors; fourth of the Kringle Queens.
2015:
Tina Brinkbaek,
daughter of Villy,
fifth of the Kringle Queens;
member of the Guild's Board of Directors.
2016:
Leif Boyer,
member of the Guild's Board of Directors.
2017:
Preben ("Nyborgnissen") Mikkelsen,
current editor and publisher of the Guild's Magazine; Webmaster of danskjulemandslaug.dk.
2018:
Simon Andersen, alias Simon Brons,
youngest Kringle to be crowned King of the Kiddies;
"chosen for his performance as Santa,
along with serving as a Guild banner-bearer."
2019:
Michael Koed,
for organizing Christmas Tree Parties
for kids who won't have the chance to share Christmas magic,
along with helping his hometown of Tonder
organize their Christmas Village.
Unpictured:
from 1998, Jorgen Rosland,
founding publisher of the Guild's
members-only Magazine;
and from 2002, Ase Davidsen,
Treasurer of the Guild,
and second of the Kringle Queens.




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