World Record Set For The Largest Ever Pass the Parcel

Added: (Wed Dec 08 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - WORLD RECORD SET FOR LARGEST EVER PASS THE PARCEL

Guinness World Records has confirmed that Britain has set a new record for the world’s largest pass the parcel.

The giant parcel, created by family superstore Woolworths.co.uk, started out the size of a car, weighing 440.9 lbs and measuring 2,500mm in length by 2,250mm in width by 1,500mm in height. It delivered over £10,000 of toys to over 100 families over the course of a 1,125.5 mile two-week tour of the UK, visiting 10 towns and cities in England, Wales and Scotland along the way.

Woolies’ snowmen, Stan and Ollie Snow accompanied the parcel, helping to give away some of the most sought after gadgets, games and toys of Christmas 2010. These included Jet Pack Buzz Lightyears, V Tech Kidizoom Video Cameras, Fur Real Pets and Paper Jamz Guitars, along with many more treats and surprises.

Each of the towns – picked by Woolies according to the best letters of nomination from local families - was invited to tear away one giant wrapping layer and take away some of the gifts inside.

The tour began in Liverpool and reached its climax in Manchester where the final layer of the parcel was peeled away to reveal the X Factor stars, Jedward. Each of the twins - real names John and Edward Grimes - was dressed as the toy predicted to be the number one best seller for Christmas: Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear.

Guinness World Records verified the new record following the completion of the road trip in Manchester. An official adjudicator was present for the start of the record attempt and following receipt of the official documentation gathered throughout the tour, confirmed that the record has now officially been awarded to Woolworths.co.uk.

Woolworths’ Dan Rubel, marketing director, said: “Not only has Woolworths.co.uk created the largest ever pass the parcel but we’ve covered more miles and included more towns and cities than any previous pass the parcel game, giving away some of our best selling toys along the way. It’s brilliant to see how much people have loved seeing Woolies back on the high street.”


Elizabeth Smith, adjudications executive from Guinness World Records added “I think this record is a brilliant example of outstanding achievement on a global scale, as well as great generosity, team work...and fun!”

Other bizarre Christmas records recorded by Guinness World Records include:

The largest Christmas bauble ornament measures 4.2m (13.77ft) in diameter and was made by Sergio Rodriguez of San Pedro Garcia in Mexico in December 2000.

The world's longest Christmas cracker measured 63.1 m (207 ft) long and 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and was made by the parents of children at Ley Hill School and Pre-School, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK on 20 December 2001.

The largest gathering of Santa Claus' was achieved by 13,000 participants in the Guildhall Square in Derry City, Northern Ireland, UK, on 9 December 2007.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Woolies’ Record Breaking Pass the Parcel Christmas Adventure travelled to the following UK towns and cities over its ten day trip:

Liverpool, England
Caersws, Wales
Dudley, England
Reading, England
Littlehampton, England
Buckingham, England
Edinburgh, Scotland
Lancaster, England
Manchester, England

GWR specific guidelines for ‘Largest Pass The Parcel’
1. There must be prizes between layers, but there must also be a main prize under the final layer of wrapping.

2. There must be a minimum of 10 layers within the parcel.

3. The parcel must be passed on from one person to the next, or from one location to the next, whilst music plays, following the same procedures as normal until the music stops. When the music stops, one layer must be removed from the parcel.

4. The parcel must be passed around in a circle; either with participants joining together to form one circle if at a single venue, or if the game takes place across multiple venues, the locations must form a circle geographically.

5. The parcel may be passed along on a trolley in the early stages if it is too heavy to pass by hand.
6. The record is for the physical dimensions (overall size) of the parcel (width, height, length) but the overall weight of the parcel must also be given.

7. The overall winner of the parcel must be included in the documentation.

8. All players must be well versed in the official rules of the game.

9. The attempt will be officially recognised as being over only when the overall winner is decided. The winner is the person who unwraps the final layer of the parcel and receives the main prize.

10. The dimensions of the parcel must be measured by a qualified surveyor.

11. For multiple venues, there must be at least 10 locations.

12. For multiple venues, the unwrapping of each layer at each separate location must be documented in video form and submitted as evidence at the end of the attempt.

13. The game of pass the parcel must be continuous. For single venue, the game must not last longer than 24 hours. For multiple venues, the parcel must not stay in one location for more than 24 hours.

For more information and to see images and video footage of the Guinness World Record Breaking Pass the Parcel as it toured the UK, visit www.woolworths.co.uk/passtheparcel .
The adventures of Stan and Ollie Snow and their giant parcel can also be followed at www.facebook.com/woolworthsuk