Watch! Thousands of Santa take part in charity run in Madrid | Christmas 2023

The holiday season is here and Madrid is gripped in Christmas spirit.

Thousands of runners wearing festive costumes took part in the annual Santa charity run through the centre of the Spanish capital on Sunday.

More than 6,000 runners dressed as Father Christmas or one of his elves took part in the 4.5-kilometre race. Whole families took part in the run and even some pets joined in with the festivities.

“It’s so exciting," said Karen Saludades, a tourist from the Philippines who was taking part in the event.

“I hate Christmas but this year these girls convinced me to come, and now I’m happy here collaborating with the Red Cross,“ another participant, Alicia Palacios, said.

The event, celebrating its 12th anniversary, was organized by one of the biggest Spanish department store groups, El Corte Ingles, and raised money for Spain's Red Cross.