An In'tl School in SH Breaks Guinness World Record

Editor's Note: As a news outlet (and much more), we get tips alll the time. We publish only a fraction of what people send our way. And while the below may not be something we normally report on, it's just too cute (and festive) to resist.

On November 30, Dulwich Pudong quietly slipped into the record books with a not-so-secret "Secret Santa." An impressive 1,500 students, parents and staff took part, dethroning a Kentucky high school that had held the record since before WeChat was a thing.

The event unfolded on the school's manicured field, a sea of anonymity and anticipation as gifts were exchanged under the rules of "Secret Santa" – you give, you get, but you don't know from whom or to whom. It's a festive tradition steeped in goodwill, a touch of chaos, and more than a little regifting potential.

An official Guinness World Records adjudicator was on-site, clipboard in hand, presumably confirming that yes, this was, in fact, the largest group of people ever to give each other random trinkets.

The Kentucky Rivalry You Didn't Know You Needed

Before Dulwich Pudong's record-breaking moment, the title belonged to Lexington High School in the United States, which hit 1,463 participants back in 2012. Why they didn't try for 1,464 is anyone's guess, but after 11 years of uninterrupted dominance, their time was up. Shanghai's international school scene had something to say about that. For the math deficient, that's a 12-year record broken.

Not Their First Rodeo

This isn't Dulwich Pudong's first tango with Guinness. Back in 2019, they made headlines for hosting the world's largest environmental sustainability lesson. Over 3,000 students from Dulwich schools worldwide tuned in, presumably learning how to save the planet one PowerPoint slide at a time.

Two records in five years? That's starting to sound like strategy. What's next – a record-breaking PTA meeting? Largest student-made battle-bots competition on a campus? But wow, look at the above pic, sooo many gifts. I bet some of them were great.

"Electric Atmosphere" and Other Observations

Garry Russell, Head of the College, described the event with his own flair for the dramatic:

"The Dulwich Pudong community is one of a kind, and to break not just one, but two world records in just five years is an incredible and historic legacy. The atmosphere on the day was electric, and there was a real sense of teamwork, joy and pride as everyone came together in the true spirit of giving. Thank you to everyone involved – staff, families, and of course students – for all your efforts in the run-up to this attempt and afterwards. This will be an amazing memory that we will all share for years to come and once again shows the world what our unique community can achieve."

Electric atmosphere? Well, if you're wading through a sea of 1,500 gifts, especially with a bunch of kids... yea, that can definitely turn up the electric dial.

A Record With Shanghai Flavor

For Shanghai expats, this record is the kind of thing that's both amusing and oddly endearing – a school event that transcended its wholesome intent to become a marker of this city's relentless ambition. You might not know someone who was there, but you probably know someone who knows someone. That's just how things go here.

So, here's to Dulwich Pudong: setting records, and making Shanghai just a little more interesting one oversized group activity at a time. Cheers!