Bring Stuff Grotto

We’ll have a massive amount of ‘hug a santa’ vouchers to hand out, please take them and give a little Christmas cheer to everyone.

Santacon is a mass un-convention of Santas. Some Santas dress as themed santas, like Farmer Santa or Spiderman Santa. we spend the day enjoying London, walking around drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies. Even Santas need to catch up with each other once a year to plan Christmas! all our grotto require is you dress as Santa and yell HELLO SANTA at the top of your voice!

What’s a Grotto

It’s a collection of Santas. The Bring Stuff Grotto has no political affiliation, does not believe in Elves hating (they make the toys after all) but do believe in giving big Santa hugs to everyone!

Our Grotto is loose (you can float in and out at any time) and we’ll plan a few nice things for people to do if they want to join us to join up with the mass group. Quite frankly, once there’s more then twenty of us, it all becomes rather confusing.

JOIN OUR EVENT AND JOIN OUR GROTTO!

What is Santacon?

It is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-sensical celebration of Christmas cheer, goodwill, and fun. It is not a membership organisation just an annual event which organically occurs every year in London and is created by whoever wants to take part. Nevertheless there are customs, and veteran Santas have put together this evolving guide of how to make it work well. There is no particular reason to dress up in Santa suits, run around town, give gifts, sing songs, have strangers sit on our laps, and decide who is naughty or nice - but it’s a lot of fun - so Santa does it anyway. Everyone loves Santa and Santa loves everyone!

Santa's Rules:

  1. Be Jolly. Be nice. Do not throw things at people. Watch out for racism, homophobia or any other kind of abuse and step in to help when needed. Santais inclusive and Santa loves everyone.
  2. Christmas apparel is mandatory. A Santa hat is not enough. Get a Santa suit. Buy a Santa suit. Make a Santa suit. Customise a Santa suit. Be creative. If you don’t have any creativity, slap yourself three times and ask your mum to help you. Glue cotton balls to red long johns, utilise Christmas decorations, whatever. Already have a Santa suit? Bring spare parts for the Santafication of strangers.
  3. Twisting the Christmas paradigm until it screams for mercy is fun! Getting arrested is not. Santa is friendly, respectful, and cooperative with police, security guards, horse guards, MI5 agents, and shop and bar staff, and does NOT break any laws!!! Have your own special surreal fun, but DON’T F*CK IT UP FOR THE REST OF US. Santas do not destroy property, steal merchandise, or do harm to others. The authorities and local businesses usually take Santa’s antics in the loving, festive spirit that Santa intends, if we are nice to them.

Santa's Reminders:

  1. The "route and schedule" is open to liberal interpretation by Santa at all times. There is no head Santa in charge to call. If you can’t show up for the start or get lost, get the mobile number of someone who can help you catch up later. Depending on the year there may be guiding Santas, flags to follow or some technological Santanav system, or you may wish to come up with your own idea to help Santae find their way.
  2. Santa dresses for all occasions. It’s December. Smart Santas wear layers. Dress to maximize merriment whether singing christmas carols in the snow, or dancing manically in the shopping centre.
  3. Santa doesn’t whine! We will be outside much of the early day and covering a lot of ground on foot – bring a bottle of water and enough "snacks" to keep your pie-hole filled until we get indoors.
  4. Bring small gifts – NAUGHTY gifts to give grown ups; NICE stuff to give kids. Visit a pound shop, wrap up coal, sweets and brussels sprouts; Santa loves stickers, hug vouchers and mistletoe.
  5. Watching Santa get drunk can be fun. Babysitting Santa while they vomit in an alley or breaking up fights is not. Don’t be that Santa. You are responsible for yourself! Pace your drinking and be nice to your fellow Santa.

Memorise these answers to important questions that may arise:

  1. Who’s in charge? "Santa!"
  2. What organization are you with? "Santa."
  3. What are you protesting? "We're not protesting we're celebrating."
  4. Why? "Because it's Christmas!"
  5. How did you get here? "A sleigh and eight tiny reindeer."
  6. Where are you going next? "I'm only allowed to tell you if you wear this hat and buy me a beer."