A Danish Santa Claus gives LEGO toy cars to Korean school children at the launch of a European-style Christmas calendar at Shinsegae department store in Seoul.(Kirsty Taylor/The Korea Herald)
The Danish Embassy is bringing some European Christmas sparkle to Seoul by introducing shoppers to advent calendars.
The tradition in northern Europe sees kids receive a small gift or sweet every day until Christmas.
“A calendar can come in every shape and size, and the main point is that you open a new window every day from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24, the day we celebrate Christmas in Denmark,” explained Jens Busk Gronbech.
“We want to introduce this tradition to the Korean people and therefore we are collaborating with Shinsegae on the Christmas calendar.”
The Danish embassy worker played Santa for the day to treat Korean schoolchildren to toy LEGO cars as the scheme was launched at the department store in Myeongdong, central Seoul.
Shoppers will have the chance to be selected to win a prize behind a numbered door on the giant calendar every morning until Christmas Eve with products offered by Danish companies and Shinsegae including bags, furniture, jewelry, LEGO and vodka.
People can enter daily by scanning their Shinsegae membership card in the machine or by logging on to the department store’s website.
(kirsyt@heraldcorp.com)
