Santa celebrates Christmas with his boyfriend in Norwegian holiday commercial marking 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalized in the country

• A new holiday advertisement from Norway's 375-year-old postal service puts a new spin on Santa.
• The commercial celebrates the 50th anniversary of homosexuality being decriminalized in the country.

Santa has a new helper this year.

Norway's 375-year-old postal service is celebrating the holidays and a significant LGBTQ anniversary in the country with a festive new commercial focused on inclusivity.

In a nearly 4-minute advertisement produced by Posten Norge, Santa Claus finds romance with Harry, a Norwegian man who waits up each Christmas Eve to spend stolen moments with jolly old Saint Nick.

The commercial, posted to Youtube and titled "When Harry Met Santa," is a riff on the 1987 rom-com "When Harry Met Sally," was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of homosexuality being decriminalized in Norway.

The short film begins with Harry catching a glimpse of Santa delivering presents to his home. They share a forlorn glance before the man in the red suit escapes up the chimney. The commercial continues to track the progression of their budding relationship; over the years, the two meet each Christmas Eve to share stories and laughs, with Harry carefully picking out his outfit before each reunion.

But Santa's holiday duties mean the duo only get to see each other once a year, and for a brief time, at that. So, Harry takes it upon himself to make his feelings known: He sends a heartfelt letter (via Posten) to Santa that reads "All I want for Christmas is you."

The following year, Santa taps Posten for some additional help delivering holiday goodies so he can spend some quality time with Harry. In the final clip, the two share a loving kiss.

"In 2022, Norway marks 50 years of being able to love whomever we want," the commercial reads as it comes to a close.

The country boasts some of the most progressive LGBTQ standards in the world. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1972 and civil partnerships have been legal since 1993. LGBTQ people have been allowed to openly serve in the country's military since 1979.

The cinematic love story has gained traction on social media, and the YouTube ad has already been viewed more than 1 million times since it was posted Monday.

Posten Norge's marketing director, Monica Solberg, told LGBTQ Nation that some negative responses were expected, but the company was prepared to deal with any backlash.

"The right to love whoever you want is a fundamental human right, and is not considered a political issue in free democratic societies in 2021," she told the outlet.

"This year, Santa is happy that Norway Post can relieve him a little, so that he can be with the one he loves," she added."