This is an archive article published on November 26, 2021

When Harry met Santa: Norwegian Christmas ad celebrates gay rights anniversary

In the nearly four-minute film called 'When Harry met Santa' - a nod to the 1989 romantic comedy 'When Harry met Sally...' starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan -- Harry spots Santa delivering gifts to his home.

Christmas ad, gay rights, homosexuality norway

A still image shows a frame from a video commercial for the Norwegian postal service "When Harry Met Santa", which features a gay Santa Claus. (Tim Lorenzen/Handout via REUTERS)

By: Reuters

2 min readOsloNov 26, 2021 07:00 PM IST First published on: Nov 26, 2021 at 07:00 PM IST

Norway’s state-owned postal service Posten is marking 50 years since Norway decriminalised same-sex relationships with a heartwarming Christmas ad in which Santa Claus strikes up a romance with a man called Harry.

In the nearly four-minute film called “When Harry met Santa” – a nod to the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry met Sally…” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan – Harry spots Santa delivering gifts to his home.

Meeting again each Christmas over a number of years, the two slowly build a bond. But Santa’s busy schedule only allows for fleeting encounters – until he enrols Norway’s Posten to help with deliveries and the two are finally able to spend time together, and to kiss in the final scene.