Who Smurfed It Best? Pictures from Global Smurfs Day

On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in 11 cities across the planet to celebrate the birth of Peyo, the man who gave us the Smurfs, for Global Smurfs Day 2011. In fact, 4,891 people combined to set a new Guinness World Record for the "Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Smurfs within a 24-hour Period in Multiple Venues." This, of course, means that there had been a previous record for people dressed as Smurfs, and that distinction belonged to 2,510 losers. As for the people who participated in this global blue ball...

The 11 venues were Brussels, Belgium; Athens, Greece; Scheveningen (The Hague), Holland; Dublin, Ireland; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Panama; Warsaw, Poland; Moscow, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; New York, USA; and London, UK. The record was announced by Marc Weinstock, President, Worldwide Marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Mr. Weinstock commented, “It's a thrill to see so many people turn out to be a part of this true fan moment in Smurfs history. Breaking a Guinness World Record on Global Smurfs Day is a testament to the enormous appeal and popularity of these beloved characters.” (Galatta)

It's certainly a Smurf of a marketing tool for Sony, as the company's live action feature The Smurfs opens on July 29, starring Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry... *sigh*... George Lopez, Kenan Thompson, and Jeff Foxworthy. As for this new record, I'm an 80s child so I can appreciate the nostalgia for a cartoon that influenced a generation to try hallucinogenic drugs, but after looking through hundreds of photos from around the world, I was a little confused. You can see for yourself what the gatherings looked like, as I've included images from England, Poland, Ireland, Mexico, Panama, South Africa and New York City after the jump. Let's see if the rest of the Drunkards can figure out why I'm upset.