GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® ANNOUNCES TOP HOLIDAY RECORDS AND ATTEMPTS FOR 2009

From the Largest Gathering of Santa’s Elves to the Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree, Thousands Across The Globe Get Into the Holiday Spirit

NEW YORK – December 1, 2009 – Whether it’s a half-ton gingerbread man or a 32-foot Menorah, the holidays have always inspired a variety of festive Guinness World Record attempts around the world. This year is no different as thousands usher in the holidays with record attempts including the Largest Gathering of Santa’s Elves in New York City and the construction of the Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree in Mexico City. For more holiday merriment and cheer, check out the Guinness World Records 2010 edition – the ultimate holiday gift.

“This time of year we typically receive very spirited proposals from applicants looking to celebrate the holidays with record breaking” said Stuart Claxton, US Spokesperson for Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Records announces this year’s attempts and top records from holidays past.

 Upcoming record attempts include:

Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree
On December 5th, government officials plan to erect the Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree in Mexico City. The current record, held by the Grupo Sonae Distribuição Brasil, measured 170.6 ft tall and was covered in green PVC artificial foliage. Hailed as the  'Peace Tree', the tree was displayed in Moinhos de Vento Park, Porto Alegre, Brazil from December 1, 2001 until January 6, 2002.

Largest Gathering of Santa’s Elves
On December 7th, ABC Family will attempt the largest gathering of Santa’s elves to celebrate the premiere of the new ABC Family original movie, Santa Baby 2 Christmas Maybe.

Largest Group of Carolers
On December 18th, a group in Panama City, Panama, will attempt the record for the Largest Group of Carolers. The current record is held by Bob Jones University in South Carolina, who had a group of 7,514 participants singing carols on December 3, 2004.

Past top holiday records include:

Largest Candy Cane
Employees of Fabiano's Chocolates and Ice Cream made the world's largest candy cane measuring 11 m 14.7 cm 36 ft 7 in long and 10.1 cm 4 in in diameter at Lansing City Market, Michigan, USA on December 5, 1998.

Largest Gingerbread Man
The record for the largest gingerbread man was set in Oslo, Norway, on November 9, 2009. The tall treat weighed in at 1,435 lb 3 oz and was made by IKEA Furuset in Norway.

Largest Group of Carol Singers- Multiple Venues
The largest group of carol singers consisted of 14,100 participants at three venues across London, UK, on November 3, 2009. The multi-venue singalong was led by the internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli (Italy) and the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, and was organized to celebrate the premiere of Disney’s A Christmas Carol (USA, 2009) and to mark the turning-on of the Christmas lights along Oxford Street, Regent’s Street and St Paul’s. Carollers were encouraged to also text a financial donation to the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity for sick children. The two songs chosen were O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night.

Most Letters to Santa Collected in a Christmas season
During Christmas 2006, Santa received 1.06 million letters and 44,166 emails (each one responded to with the help of Santa's very special Canada Post elves). More than 11,000 Canada Post volunteers helped respond to these letters in 11 languages, including Braille.

Most Christmas Trees Chopped in Two Minutes
Erin Lavoie (USA) set the record for the most Christmas trees chopped in two minutes with 27. The record was achieved on the set of Guinness World Records: Die GroBten Weltrekorde in Germany, on December 19, 2008.
 
Largest Gingerbread House 
Roger A. Pelcher (USA) built a gingerbread house with an internal volume of 36,600 ft at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA on November 22, 2006. The house was 13.86 m (45 ft 6 in) long, 10.81 m (35 ft 6 in) wide and approximately 18.28 m (60 ft) tall at its highest point.
 
Largest Christmas Stocking
The largest Christmas stocking measured 106 ft 9 in long and 49 ft 1 in wide (heel to toe) and was made by the Children's Society (UK) in London, UK on December 14, 2007.
 
Largest Collection of Christmas Brooches
The largest collection of Christmas brooches contains 1,329 different festive items as of June 16, 2009 and is owned by Adam Wide (UK).

Largest Secret Santa Game
The largest secret Santa game involved 1,270 participants in an event organized by Boots UK Limited in Nottingham, UK, on December 18, 2008.
 
Largest Menorah
The largest menorah in the world was designed by Yaacov Agam and is 32 ft tall, 28 ft wide, weighs 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) and was unveiled on December 29, 2005, opposite Central Park, New York, USA.

Most Dreidels Spinning Simultaneously
The most dreidels spun simultaneously for a minimum of 10 seconds was 541 at an event held at Temple Emanuel, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States on December 18, 2005.

This world renowned and celebrated annual, Guinness World Records 2010, contains the most comprehensive collection of the greatest and most amazing accomplishments from around the world and beyond.  A “must-have” for both knowledge-seekers and aspiring record-breakers of all ages, Guinness World Records 2010 is available for the suggested retail price of $28.95. 

For more information about Guinness World Records 2010 or to vote for your favorite Top Records of the Decade, please visit our website at www.guinnessworldrecords.com.

About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.

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