Operation Santa Claus: touch of frost and a warm heart brings Swedish festive cheer to Hong Kong
- Swedish Winter event invites Operation Santa Claus beneficiaries to take part in the fun
- Swedish Consul General Per Augustsson says it’s good to bring a taste of his homeland to Hong Kong
Swedish Consul General Per Augustsson’s fondest memories of Christmas in his winter wonderland home country is enjoying the snow, amid lights, sleigh bells and festivities.
“The city is covered in snow. It creates a very special atmosphere,” Augustsson said. “It’s also fun to be outside. You can go skating on the lakes because the lakes are frozen. You can also go skiing.”
Temperatures in Hong Kong, however, reach nearly 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) even in November, so the atmosphere in the city is quite different, to say the least.
But Augustsson said, at this year’s and earlier Swedish Winter events organised by the Swedish consulate to Hong Kong and Macau, he and others were still able to bring Scandinavian Christmas cheer to the city, especially those who faced difficulties – the beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
The Swedish consulate in November this year invited OSC beneficiaries to participate in the Swedish Winter event, as it has done for the past five years.
“It’s especially meaningful to help them have a bit of a good time and break from their everyday worries,” Augustsson said.
“That’s part of Christmas, isn’t it, that we should think of each other, take care of each other and make sure everyone is included. That’s part of the Christmas spirit.”
OSC is an annual drive organised by the Post and public broadcaster RTHK since 1988 to raise cash for city charities. OSC has raised HK$353 million over the years to support the Hong Kong community through 323 charitable projects.
A total of 15 worthy causes will be helped this year, the 35th anniversary of OSC.
The Swedish consulate’s event was first established to share the traditions of Sweden with people in Hong Kong.
Held in different locations each year, it features Swedish winter activities, including wreath and ornament making, a Christmas market packed with traditional Christmas products, as well as stands selling food and drinks from the Nordic country.
This year’s Swedish Winter was held in K11 Art Mall Piazza & Atrium in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon from November 25-26 and was organised with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Business Sweden.
Staff took this year’s special guests to meet Santa Claus, take part in workshops such as making their own Christmas wreath and ornaments, or play a game of curling, one of the all-time favourite winter sports in Sweden, normally played on ice, but adapted into floor curling for frost-free Hong Kong.
There was also a Swedish Lucia event, where a candle-carrying choir dressed in traditional white gowns sang.
Lucia is a figure from Swedish mythology and the bearer of light in the dark northern winters.
The free annual Swedish Winter was open to the public, and anyone could join the activities, Augustsson said.
The Swedish Winter held at Tai Kwun in Central last year attracted about 20,000-26,000 visitors, despite the pandemic. The consulate general estimated around 30,000 people attended the two-day event this year.
“We’re doing this to connect with Hong Kong people,” he said. “I think they were very happy to be there. It’s a very different, special experience for a lot of people, especially if you’re not used to the northern European Christmas atmosphere.”
A reading corner was also set up and named after Alfie Atkins, a beloved fictional Swedish character created by the Swedish author Gunilla Bergström in 1972.
The reading corner was designed to highlight Sweden’s strong tradition of children’s literature and a culture of parents reading to their youngsters.
A car made by Swedish vehicle builder Volvo – a new, all-electric SUV – was also on display, in line with the festival’s theme of sustainability.
Visitors were also able to write a postcard to Santa Claus with their Christmas wishes and enjoy a “free local postal service”.
Augustsson admitted Christmas in Hong Kong was different, but that “we can still recreate a little bit of the Swedish atmosphere”.
