It is an informal group of individuals who have decided to bring joy to children and the elderly during the festive season. Without an association, sponsors or official structures, but with their own will, their own resources and a clear goal: to put as many smiles on people's faces as possible. They have given themselves a name KUL Santa Clauses. They bring joy to people with their decorated four-wheelers and Christmas costumes of Santa, the Grinch and the Christmas elves.
»It all started quite spontaneously,« says Jelena Petrovic. Four years ago, her partner Miha Pipenbaher and his friend decided to put on Christmas hats, get on a quad bike and ride around Slovenska Bistrica, handing out candy to the children. The response was unexpectedly warm and the passers-by were delighted.
From a small gesture, an idea was born that has grown year after year. Chocolates, gifts, lights and more and more visits joined the bombs. Today, each year the group chooses its own locations, decides on the number of gifts, orders them, packs them and distributes them personally. They cover all the costs themselves.
»Our motto is very simple - as much joy and warmth as possible,« they stress. And that's what people notice. Over the years, they have been invited to various locations, which they see as confirmation that their work is leaving a mark. They are spreading goodwill and joy, and lighting lights in the hearts of those who meet and visit them.
Older people also have a special place in their project. »They are often forgotten,« they say. That's why every year they decide to make Christmas theirs. They prepare and deliver at least as many personalised packages to the homes of the elderly as there are residents. This year, the gifts were personally handed out in the lobby of the Dr Jože Potrč Home in Slovenska Bistrica, while the others were placed under the Christmas tree so that they could be distributed among the other residents by the staff.
The group currently consists of around ten members, with the number of members varying between eight and ten, depending on life circumstances. »We are all 100% committed to the project and we want to be able to continue in the years to come,« adds Petrovičeva. They also admit that they would have liked to have had a little more support from the home environment - less doubts and stone throwing and more encouragement.
Their story proves that you don't need a big stage or a big budget to create real festive magic. Sometimes all it takes is goodwill, the courage to take the first step and a sincere wish to make Christmas truly a holiday for us all. Their story is one of helping each other, because we never know what each other's stories are, but it is also a story of bringing people together, bringing communities closer together and spreading love.
Amadeja Mlakar, 21. 12. 2025
English (UK) 
Slovenščina 
Italiano 
Magyar