Thousands participated in the annual SantaCon tradition of drinking and dressing up in Christmas-inspired costumes for a day-long pub crawl in New York and other cities around the world like London. The article shares photos from SantaCon events in New York and London showing participants in costumes drinking and partying in public areas and bars. It also notes that the NYPD will heavily patrol the New York event this year due to past reports of public intoxication and issues.

1. utf8_encode(15 SantaCon Photos That Will Get You in a
Festive Mood)
15 SantaCon Photos Showing Off a Jolly Good Time
SantaCon Photobomb 2013
Riding the Subway
Instagram user Dimati rides off to the SantaCon festivities via the subway with his elf sidekick.
Image: @dimati on Instagram

2. Rowdy in the East Village
Santas get rowdy, especially the ones with candy cane canes.
Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
What a Blast
Mashable's own Taylor Casti took part in the SantaCon festivities.
Image: @thecoppergirl on Instagram

3. Reindeer Plus Cop
Here's a reindeer and a NYPD cop hanging out at Tompkins Square Park.
Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
Uh Oh, the NYPD...
The Ev Grieve local East Village blog writes that the NYPD got the "SantaCon memo."
Image: Ev Grieve BlogEV Grieve

4. Run for It!
Santas plus bearded man run through Tompkins Square Park to start the bar crawl in New York
City.
Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
Bar Crawlin' in NYC
SantaCon participants drinking beers inside a bar in New York's East Village.
Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images

5. Let's Dance
It's time for some SantaCon grooving in New York City.
Image: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
Santas Invade London
Many Mr. and Mrs. Clauses in the heart of London.
Image: Justin Tallis /AFP/Getty Images

6. It's A Party in London
Drinking outside of Saint Paul's Cathedral in central London --not the most pious.
Image: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Wine for the Holidays
Open bottle wine drinking in front of Saint Paul's Cathedral in London.
Image: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

7. It's a Chicken Santa
Reindeer, Santa and Chicken share a drink at London's SantaCon.
Image: @Veevs on Instagram
Picture Time!
Time for a group shot of boozing -- these gals united for a pic in central London.
Image: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

8. Red Cape Hits London
An artsy shot by Instagram user Stepyuk of the London SantaCon crowds.
Image: @stepyuk on Instagram
SantaCon Continues Into The Night
Instagram user Fundamentals said "Tonight we took over the streets of London."
Image: @Fundamentals on Instagram
Thousands participated in the annual SantaCon tradition of drinking and dressing up in Christmasinspired costumes Saturday for a day-long pub crawl in New York.
SantaCon takes place in more than? 300? cities around the world, including New York, London, San
Francisco, Vancouver and Zurich.
See also: In Scrooge Move, NYPD Doesn't Want Bars to Serve SantaCon This Year

9. In New York, this year's alcohol-fueled procession of revelers dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be?
heavily patrolled by the NYPD? due to past reports of the merriment turning into vomiting, urinating
and fighting on the streets.
Those dressed as Santa Claus must? remove fake beards? to be served alcohol, and no alcoholic
beverages will be permitted on Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road transportation, according to
the? New York Daily News.
With the London SantaCon taking place ahead of New York because of time-zone differences,
Facebook videos of the festivities have already begun to show up on SantaCon London's Facebook
page.
Here's a recap of SantaCon's international? updates via Twitter.
I don't think i've ever seen this many Santas before! #santacon #Christmas #London
pic.twitter.com/za889bN1gr
" Mai Noman (@mainoman) December 14, 2013
What #Santacon left behind at the steps of All Souls Church #London. Litter and broken glass
everywhere pic.twitter.com/MucbBqvyhB
" Philippa Thomas (@PhilippaNews) December 14, 2013
#santacon #santarchy #santacon2013 #santarchy2013 #fatherchristmas #santaclaus #pubcrawl
#vancouver #yule http://t.co/M732o9Ezhv
" Kieran " Strange (@KieranStrange) December 14, 2013
It is 12noon. Alcohol is banned from @LIRR & @MetroNorth trains/stations through noon tomorrow
to maintain orderly travel during #SantaCon.
" MTA (@MTA) December 14, 2013
UPDATE: the rivers of puke continue to flow through lower Manhattan for #SantaCon
http://t.co/6NScu2aORF
" Gothamist (@Gothamist) December 14, 2013
Santa's having a jolly snowball fight! Come join the fun! #NYCSantacon
" santacon (@santacon) December 14, 2013
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Image:? Kena Betancur/Getty Images