|   THE NORTH POLE (November 9, 2009) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by for a visit. I am not sure where the time is going! We only have 45 days to go until Christmas and still have much work to do to get ready for our Christmas Eve Mission!

Needless to say everyone is working hard to make sure we have a successful Christmas eve, which means that we have all of our gifts ready to go and that they all get delivered. It's a big task every year, but we have all been doing it for many, many, many years, so we know how to make sure we get everything done.

Thanksgiving will be here soon and then it will be full speed forward until Christmas. I know many of your have already got your Christmas list ready and many of you have already e-mailed it to me. But I will bet a lot of you haven't really thought about what you would like Santa to bring you for Christmas.

Well, not to worry, you still have plenty of time to decide, if you aren't sure. I hope this Christmas you will reach out to those less-fortunate and help them as well in any way that you can. It is always nice to receive gifts for Christmas, but the Spirit of Christmas means that you give of yourself. Not just material gifts, but your time and your love. Share it with others and then encourage them to do the same and pretty soon it will spread all over the world -- wouldn't that be a wonderful thing, especially at this time of the year?

Well, I must get back to work, but think about ways you can help others who really could use a helping hand or lift in their Christmas Spirit. If you do these things, you are guaranteed a spot on the Nice List.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (October 18, 2009) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by! I don't know about the rest of you, but at this time of year, with less than 70 days to go until Christmas, I get a funny little feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's a nervous, but excited feeling. I guess you can say that I am "anticipating" the arrival of Christmas and the excitement that goes with the most wonderful time of the year -- with all apologies to Andy Williams.

Now, of course the air is cold and snow and ice surround us here at the North Pole all through the year, but I know in many other parts of the world, the temperatures are getting cooler and some places have had their first snow already. Of course we are very busy getting ready for our Christmas Eve Mission, but even though we have a lot of work to do, we still always take time to enjoy what we are doing and remember why we are called to this special mission.

Of course many associate gifts and spending lots of money with Christmas, which can put people in bad moods and cause much stress, especially with the current world economy. But really, our job -- my job -- is to promote love for one another. That mean's being kind and considerate to other people and helping those less fortunate however you can. Not by spending lots of money, but by doing little things that show you care. Why if everyone would just do a few little things to help out other people, wouldn't the world be such a better place to be? Unfortunately, not everyone believes this or practices this. So, it's up to you and me to set an example that all can follow.

This Christmas season, make it your goal to help at least one person in any way you can. Whether it be helping an elderly person with simple tasks around the house or sharing with a friend who is going through a difficult time or helping to collect coats for those that might not have something warm to wear this season. Maybe help collect food for your local food pantry. There are so many ways to help and I promise you that you will feel so much better in your heart after you do this and see the results!

Why, you might even get that funny little feeling in the pit of your stomach. 

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (October 4, 2009) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by for a visit! It's hard to believe we only have 81 days to go before Christmas! It's a very exciting time of year here at the North Pole as we are working very hard to ensure that we are ready to deliver our goods on Christmas Eve!

The elves are very busy in the workshop and Twinkle, one of the elves who is very important our success, is busy testing new remote control cars and helicopters and making sure they work the way they are supposed to work. Twinkle wanted me to be sure and say "Hi!" to his good friend Jade, who was visited by Twinkle last year.

I know that in many parts of the world the weather is starting to change, which signals the coming of Christmas. Of course here at the North Pole, the weather doesn't change much -- snow and ice surround us -- but fortunately we all love this type of weather. We also enjoy sneaking away once in awhile to other parts of the world on short trips just to experience the weather in those areas. Sometimes I even manage to run into a few of you and I can tell you recognize me by the look you give me. Every once in awhile, I even get a chance to say hello and to ask you if you are doing your best to be good.

Then of course, it's time to get back to the Pole and back to work, which is something I need to do now as well. I have a list to check and I need to check it twice!

Please remember to be good, kind to others and carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. Until next time, bye-bye. 

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (September 2, 2009) -- Welcome everyone and thank you for stopping by! Well, many schools are back in session now and fall is on the way, which means that our favorite time of the year is getting closer every single day. As I watch the snow fall outside of my office window and I type this to you, we have just 113 days to go until Christmas.

You can bet that the elves are very busy right now and so am I and Mrs. Claus. Toys and other gifts are being made by the thousands daily by the hard-working elves and there are several new and exciting toys coming this Christmas season, so be on the lookout for those!

I am constantly checking the list twice -- it's a full-time job, you know, and Mrs. Claus is busy making sure we stay on schedule and have plenty of gifts for children all over the world this Christmas.

I hope that you all had a good summer and made lots of memories and are now ready to get back to work and prepare for the fall and winter holiday seasons! For those that enjoy it, Halloween is just around the corner, then Thanksgiving of course and naturally, Christmas.

Well, I need to get back to work now. Bernard wants to know if I have gone over the list today. Thank you for stopping by and remember to be good and helpful to others and carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. Talk to you next time! 

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (August 10, 2009) -- With its pointy green leaves and red berries, holly is a perfect Christmas plant.

The origins of Christmas holly can be traced back to Northern Europe.

There is more than one kind of holly. In England, there is "he holly" and "she holly" which is distinguishable by the leaves. "He holly" has prickly leaves and "she holly" has smooth leaves.

There is much important symbolism associated with holly. The prickly leaves symbolize Jesus' crown of thorns, while the red berries are to remind people of the blood Christ shed for everyone.

Many people associate holly with Santa Claus. In many movies, TV shows and books, Santa is seen wearing a sprig of holly on his hat, or have a holly design on his suit, belt or belt buckle. This image helped solidify holly's place in modern Christmas traditions.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (July 12, 2009) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by. It has been a very busy offseason for us here at the North Pole as we prepare for Christmas 2009.

It's hard to believe we only have 166 days left until Christmas Day! That doesn't seem like a lot of time when you are making the toys that will be delivered all over the world on Christmas Eve.

The elves are busy  in the workshop and the reindeer are taking it easy -- they will begin training for our Christmas Eve flight in October.

Did you know that we have elves that also make Christmas ornaments? Indeed we do and they are masters at creating beautiful ornaments of all sizes and shapes...of course they have done this type of work for a couple thousand years.

Every Christmas, one of the most enduring traditions is the placing of ornaments on the Christmas trees. European glass reflector ornaments have been among the most popular and requested items at Christmas time. These ornaments range from traditional images of Christmas, such as Santas and nutcrackers, to the unusual and off-beat. Many ornaments, which seem at first glance to have nothing to do with Christmas, are actually deeply rooted in European folklore. 

Did you know that the pickle ornament, for instance, is a German symbol of good luck? In the past, the first child to find a pickle on a Christmas tree received a special gift on Christmas morning. As children grew older, however, the pickles got smaller!

You can read more about the history of Christmas ornaments here.  Well, I have to get back to work for now, but keep checking in for new blog updates. Thank you for stopping by and remember to be good and helpful to others and carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (May 17, 2009) -- The Christmas tree -- it embodies the Spirit of Christmas. Warm glowing lights, bright shiny ornaments that may also hold a lot of family history and a star on top.

Some historians trace the lighted Christmas tree to Martin Luther. He attached lighted candles to a small evergreen tree, trying to simulate the reflections of the starlit heaven -- the heaven that looked down over Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve.

Until about 1700, the use of Christmas trees appears to have been confined to the Rhine River District. From 1700 on, when lights were accepted as part of the decorations, the Christmas tree was well on its way to becoming a tradition in Germany. Then the tradition crossed the Atlantic with the Hessian soldiers.

Some people trace the origin of the Christmas tree to an earlier period. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were used for ceremonials. Egyptians, in celebrating the winter solstice -- the shortest day of the year -- brought green date palms into their homes as a symbol of "life triumphant over death". When the Romans observed the feast of Saturn, part of the ceremony was the raising of an evergreen bough. The early Scandinavians were said to have paid homage to the fir tree.

Trees and branches can be made purposeful as well as symbolic. The Christmas tree is a symbol of a living Christmas spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest. The fact that balsam fir twigs, more than any other evergreen twigs, resemble crosses may have had much to do with the early popularity of balsam fir used as Christmas trees.  

That's all for now. Thank you for stopping by and remember to be good and helpful to others and carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (March 31, 2009) -- Hello once again everyone and thank you for stopping by! Do you like candy canes? Many people do, but do you know the history behind the candy? 

One of the most often seen symbols of Christmas is the candy cane. Not only are candy canes used as a sweet Christmastime treat but they are also used for decoration. How did this seasonal candy get its familiar shape, and when did it become part of Christmas tradition?

When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate Christmas became popular in Europe the people there began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. The predecessor of our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy.

Part of the Christmas celebration at the Cologne Cathedral were pageants of living creches. In about 1670 the Candy Canes choirmaster there had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook and passed them out to children who attended the ceremonies. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice of passing out the sugar canes at living creche ceremonies spread throughout Europe.

The use of candy canes on Christmas trees made its way to America by the 1800’s, however during this time they were still pure white. They are represented this way on Christmas cards made before 1900, and it is not until the early 20th century that they appear with their familiar red stripes.

From its plain early beginnings to its familiar shape and color of today, the candy cane is a symbol of Christmas and a reminder of the meaning of the holiday.

Well, I must go for now, but I will talk to you all very soon. Remember to be good and helpful to others and carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (March 25, 2009) -- Greetings everyone and thank you for stopping by for a visit!

It's hard to believe there are only 274 days remaining until Christmas. To some that might seem like a long time, but to those of us in the "toy business" it doesn't seem that long at all.

We are working hard and getting things ready for Christmas 2009. So far, we are on schedule and we even have time to take a break every now and then for some flag football or snow baseball. What's snow baseball, you ask?

Well, it can sometimes be a bit hard to play baseball at the North Pole...what with all the snow and ice and not much green grass around and certainly no warm weather. So, we came up with a bit of a different take on baseball.

Instead of baseballs, we use snowballs and instead of bats, we use long icicles -- and I do mean long. You wouldn't find these icicles hanging from your house. We use normal baseball gloves for fielding and we have some very fun games -- at least until the balls and bats start to melt in our hands!

At any rate, it's always a nice break from work and a chance to get some exercise and enjoy being outside...even if you don't have to worry about getting a sunburn!

Well, I must get back to work and I know you have other things to do as well. Remember to always carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart and be kind and helpful to others. 

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (March 2, 2009) -- A wonderful, fresh blanket of snow -- about six inches -- covers our North Pole home today. The air is cold, but crisp and everything is silent with a bright, white, clean look to it.

I love looking at the undisturbed blanket of sparkling white snow, stretching for as far as the eye can see.

You know, the elves will love it as well. We might decide to take a break from toymaking today and play a game of football or maybe build snow forts and have snowball fights -- all in good fun, of course.

I might have to take one of the reindeer up so I can fly over the snow and get a good look at the wonderful majesty of Mother Nature.

The words were never more true -- Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart all through the year. I will talk to you again very soon.

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (March 1, 2009) -- Good day everyone -- thank you for stopping by Santa's blog!

Head Elf Bernard is a little cranky today. Apparently yesterday's all-day learning session on the latest advanced microchip processors was a bit harder than he expected, so he's in a bit of a bad mood today.

You see, bad moods can happen to anyone -- even Santa. But the important thing to remember is to try to stay positive and always hope for the best. Negativity not only brings you down, but those around you, too. If you do your best to stay positive, then those feelings radiate out to those around you and before you know it, everyone has a smile and a twinkle in their eye!

Well, I am off to take the reindeer on a walk. Yes, just like you would take your pet on a walk, the reindeer sometimes enjoy taking a walk through the ice and snow of the North Pole with me. We always have a good time, unless Comet hits me in the back of the head with a snowball!

Remember to smile and do your best to be positive and have a cheerful attitude. If you do that, you will certainly carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. Bye for now!

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site 

|   THE NORTH POLE (January 10, 2009) -- Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are having a good start to the new year. After a few days off, we have started work for next Christmas and we couldn't be happier to be back at work and thinking about Christmas 2009.

Not everyone can do this job, you know. Many, many people enjoy the holidays, but when they are over, they are ready to move forward. However, we enjoy Christmas all year long and we love doing it.

We never feel sad when one Christmas is over because we are preparing for next Christmas and we are always thinking of new ways to make the next Christmas even better.

We also have to make sure the sleigh is in good working order and fix anything that might need repair.

The elves do a thorough inspection of all of our equipment in the workshop and any repairs needed are made.

When everything is in tip-top working order, we then start making gifts for next Christmas.

Yes, it's a lot of work, but we all love what we do and wouldn't trade the opportunity we have been given for anything else in the world.

This job is not for everyone, but it certainly is for us.

Well, I must get back to work, but I hope that you will be helpful to others, listen to your folks and teachers and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. Bye for now!

Send comments to Santa Claus  |  Visit Santa's Web site