Santa Claus made a special, secret visit to Eudora recently to answer questions from first graders.
The Eudora Times asked our friends at St. Nick Services for help getting Santa away from the busy time of making presents to do an interview using the tough questions submitted by local children in the classes of Stephanie Green, Taylor Horn, Beth Swanson and Megan Cleveland.
Be sure to check out our Facebook page for their drawings for Santa as well.
Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How do your reindeer fly? How fast can your reindeer fly? –Addy, Piper
A: Well, normally, I tell people they fly very, very carefully. But I’ll tell you just a bit more. There’s a physics involved, and there’s a point where physics combines and blends into Christmas magic. So, the reindeer have to be moving at a fairly brisk pace so they can walk and trot and then start running. And once they start running, the Christmas magic comes in. All of a sudden, their hooves are not touching the ground anymore.
Sometimes it takes us a little while to get up high in the air. But don’t worry, we’ve been training. They are skilled like Olympic athletes. They’re ready for this December. We’re working on landing right now to make sure that we can do a spot landing directly on the top of the house and not miss a beat.
No one’s ever been able to gauge their speed because we do the whole world overnight. It’s hard to put a radar gun on something that’s that fast.
Q: How old are your reindeer? –Stella
A: Well, the reindeer are older than they appear in the TV and movies. Those are stage and acting reindeer, not our real reindeer. The reindeer do age but very, very slowly. But they do get older, such as Rudolph, who we all know. Most of us think he is a very small, young deer, but he is grown up and has a wife and family now. So they are all different ages — we even just last year had new little reindeer. Parents called one of them JJ because they couldn’t decide whether to call her Jingle or Jangle.
Q: Where do you get your reindeer? -Sayge
A: They’re part of a very special herd at the North Pole that came there at the same time that I moved there. They’ve got the same Christmas magic.
Q: Can I see Dasher and the reindeer? Where is Rudolph? –Aubree, Kaedyn, Laila
A: Well, that’s tied to a moment in time. If it’s a certain circumstance, you can see Dasher if we’re on a rooftop. Dasher is usually close to the front in the right side of the fourth position because he’s very powerful and strong. You put your strongest reindeer closest to the sled.
For Rudolph, it again depends on timing. Right now, it’s morning at the North Pole. So, Rudolph I’m sure is helping get all the little reindeer together and talking with the rest of our senior elves about what training we’re going to do today.
Q: What do your reindeer eat? –Silas, Hayden
A: Well, Silas and Hayden, reindeer aren’t that much different than you in many ways. They want to eat things that they really shouldn’t have most of the time, but their three favorite foods — depending on the reindeer — are apple slices, dry oatmeal and carrot sticks. But they also eat grass and hay and some other grains to help them get the strength and the power to do the work they do.
Q: How do you carry your bag? –Eevee
A: I carry the bag because it’s what the job entails. Christmas magic helps me lift it, even though it’s too heavy for any single person to lift. It also helps me make it down the chimneys and do all the good work we do for those boys and girls who sent us letters or communicated with us and made sure they’re on the nice list.
Q: How does your sleigh fly? –DJ, Aaron, Huck
A: Much like how the reindeer fly, it involves speed, physics and a good sprinkling of Christmas magic. For years, there were many things that the world thought was magic. We’ve now found out there are scientific explanations. I’m pretty sure one of these days someone’s going to reveal the scientific explanations of some more of the Christmas magic. But there is so much that they probably will never get to all of it!
Q: How old are you? –Cooper, Ella
A: Well, my memory fails me a little bit. I have a Swiss cheese memory — it’s full of holes. But the elves tell me I’m 479. I, on the other hand, don’t believe I look a day over 400.
Q: When’s your birthday? –Hadlyn
A: Well, we decided a long time ago that my birthday would be the day after Christmas. It’s a good day to have a celebration.
Q: Am I on the nice list? –Lydia
A: The best news is no matter what list you’re on, you still have days to improve your position. The elves are constantly working on the list and to be totally honest — right now, I don’t know because the elves are still working on the list. They will bring them to me a little later this month when I do the final approvals and checks.
But you can certainly be on the nice list if you aren’t now. I have a suspicion you might be there. Mrs. Claus tells me almost every day, “Santa, you know, we can all do a little better.” So, I try to do a little better for Mrs. Claus. You try to do a little better for your parents and I’ll bet we all end up on the nice list.
Q: How do you fly to my house? –Hadley
A: Once you send a message to me, hopefully with a letter, then you get put on the grid. The elves are constantly changing our routes and putting things together. We use some modern technology now as well as Christmas magic, such as navigation machines and electronic lists. So, as long as you or your parents reach out to me, I can find you!
Q: How do you get in the chimney? –London, Maddie, Asher, Maddy
A: Getting in is the easy part… getting out is the more difficult. The physics of going down a chimney involve changing the spacing between the submolecules. The molecules of the chimneys open it up wide enough for me and my presents to get through so I can deliver them to you.
If you don’t have a chimney, don’t worry, I can still get you presents! I have the magic key that only works on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It allows me to open any lock!
Q: How do you put presents in the chimney? –Calvin, Crosby
A: The presents are in the sack. When I’m holding the sack, it works just like I do. I have to admit, at least so far, the sack is still a little bigger than I am. But if I keep eating cookies, however, I can’t guarantee that forever.
Q: How do you make all of the presents? –Mabel
A: I personally don’t make that many anymore. I make a few, but we have elves who are a blessing and such skilled craftsmen. We have a village that hosts thousands of elves, and some of them don’t even work on toys. They do cleaning, cooking and medical services just like in your town.
But those who are fortunate enough work in manufacturing toys, and they feel it’s a real honor to do so. They have methods and tools that get improved every year. They move carefully and quickly to make sure the toys go into your homes.
Q: How can you give presents all around the world in one night? –Miles, Parker
A: Sometimes I’m even amazed at how it happens. It’s a blessing given to the world through the belief of Christmas. Everywhere, there’s somebody who believes that I can do something kind for somebody else or can give to somebody else. That belief and the energy and Christmas spirit from those folks create the magic that allows me to do that.
Q: Can you please send me a picture of an elf? –Dorian, Tinsley
A: We will try to get you a drawing, but the elves don’t like to be photographed. I honor that. If you told me you didn’t want your picture taken, I wouldn’t take it and I certainly wouldn’t share it with someone else. The elves are very honored that you want to see what they look like, but they don’t look that much different than you.
Maybe their noses are a little sharper and their ears a little pointer, but besides that, not much different. I will tell you this: even though they wear shoes that are curled on the front end, their toes are not!
Q: Can I have a picture of my elf Chip? –Kendall
A: Well, the elves [on] the shelves is a relatively new effort we’re using that works well some places, works not so well other places. There are reasons that those elves go out as elves on the shelves. There are certain skills that they have to obtain.
First of all, not moving when anyone’s looking at them and appearing like they’re a stuffed doll. That’s not easy to achieve. Second, they have to like being out on these trips for a long time. So, again, you can take a picture of your own elf because when you’re taking the picture, they’re in that mode of looking like a stuffed doll. In that state, they don’t mind. But they don’t like their real picture taken.
Q: How many elves do you have? – Morgan, Aria, Clara
A: There are thousands and thousands of elves who choose to live in our village and many, many elves who wish to work in the North Pole industry of creating smiles and joy for kids all over the world.
Q: What are the elves’ names? Do you know my elf’s name? –Ella, Megan
A: Well, I know your elves’ name [that] we use at the North Pole. But I’m not exactly sure which name you call her at your house, so I can’t be much help to you there. I should point out that the elves on your shelf do not use the names you call them. They’re great names, but they have other, secret names that they use in the North Pole.
So, sometimes people ask me “Do you know Chip?” Then, I have to think very hard — which one is Chip? Is that Poindexter or is that Jennifer? I don’t know what their names are besides their North Pole ones!
Q: When is my elf’s birthday? –Ruby
A: Many of these questions about elves [on the shelves] and wanting pictures all stem from the same thing. You all are looking for proof, and that kind of proof isn’t going to be available. The proof about Christmas comes from your heart and from your friends and your family. And that’s all you need to know.
Q: Where do you get the elves? –Hayden
A: They are also part of a tribe that joined us at the North Pole around the same time I moved there. They’ve since expanded and grown, much like any other country and city. Now, they’re a very large group.
Q: What do you do with your elves? –Lane
A: Anything I can! We have talks, we sing songs, we have dinners and they come to visit me at the big house in smaller groups. We have a big hall where we have events and concerts. We have jolly good fun all the time as much as we can. But they’re very serious about their work. Oh, trust me, they’re very serious about their work.
Q: Why do you have elves? Do they make the presents? —-Elijah, Alaya
A: Yes, they make presents, along with many other things. They have a whole city that functions, and they do all of that work as well. Some elves help some make outfits, help mend the harnesses, bake the cookies, maintain the sleigh and work with the reindeer, to name a few.
We need elves! It was just amazingly good fortune that we had a tribe of elves join us when we got to the North Pole who were interested in doing this and have since made it their life’s work for many generations.
Q: How is (my elf) Eliza doing? Is she good or not? Tell me if she is good. –Zariya
A: Well, if Eliza is the Eliza I think it is, then she’s good in heart. She has a little challenge with being mischievous. Sometimes, those mischievous sensations take over her better thoughts. But she’s a wonderful elf. We hope that she grows and ages and learns to be even better!
Q: Do you actually have magic? Where do you get it? –Miles, Lydia
A: Yes, there’s magic, but it’s not mine — it belongs to Christmas. I just get to use it, so it looks like it’s mine. Magic is derived from your beliefs and well wishes of all the people in the world.
Q: How do you know what I want for Christmas? –Nathalie
A: I spent a lot of years doing this and I’ve known a lot of children so I can make some pretty educated guesses. But really how I know is you or your parents send me messages. They can be through a letter or even an email! Some people send messages through their elves on their shelves. You have to let me know what you want — it’s a very important part of the process for you to communicate with me.
Q: What cookies do you like? Do you love cookies? Do you like my cookies? –Ella, Parker, Blakely, Halle
A: Yes, I love cookies! The answer to the other two questions is the same. My favorite is all cookies. I take after my good friend the Cookie Monster: if it’s a cookie, I love it. Mrs. Claus says any cookie put in front of me is in danger of losing its life. So, of course, I love your cookies. And I love everyone else’s cookies, too.
Q: Do you cheer for the Chiefs and Kansas? Do you like Kansas Jayhawks? –Grant, Cash
A: I assure you that I cheer for all the teams to be good sports, to not get hurt, to play well and to be friends after the game. But I have to say I cheer for some of the teams maybe a little harder than others — and you’ve picked a couple of really good ones.
Q: Do you like makeup? –Olivia
A: I don’t have any grudges against makeup, but I don’t use makeup regularly. The media elves have been trying to put on something that makes me look a little tan when I do some film work, but I don’t think that looks right. I don’t think Santa needs to be tan during the winter season. During the summer, I travel around and get some sun, but not in the winter.
And as far as makeup for young girls, that’s an interesting question. I tend to believe what your parents believe.
Q: Do you love me? –Ashley
A: Unequivocally, yes, I do. And I hope that you can find it in your heart to love me, too.
Q: If I am bad, do we get presents or coal? –Asher, Cash
A: Coal is no longer the default answer for kids who are having discipline problems because coal is getting expensive, is harder to find and it’s an environmental hazard. So in general, if you have not been well, not doing good things, and more importantly, intentionally doing mischievous things, you probably won’t get many gifts.
The gifts you get probably won’t be the No. 1 thing on your list. It’s really hard for me not to make sure every child has something, but it’s not so hard to be a little stern with those that are doing things wrong and they know it.
Q: Do you like apples? –Landon
A: Yes. We don’t have many apple trees at the North Pole, so they have to be imported. I pretty much like all fruits.
Q: Why do you give presents to kids? –Noah
A: It’s the most fun thing you can do in the world. It is fun to think about while you’re getting ready for the big night. It’s fun to actually give it to you, and gives me even more joy to watch you open them.
Q: Why do you come once a year? –Weston
A: Christmas takes so long to prepare for, I couldn’t come more than that. Besides, if it were something that happened every day, it wouldn’t be so special.
Q: Where do you live? Where is the North Pole? —Oakley, Lucy
A: I live most of the year at the North Pole. But you have to know that Christmas magic has helped me do my job better. And one of the things that allows me to do is change my appearances, so I can look like anyone!
I can be in shorts and flip flops on a beach, or I could be walking through a forest in jeans and a flannel. You never know exactly what I look like. But be reassured that I’m watching over you all as much as I can all over the world. When I’m not at the North Pole, I’m living wherever I need to be to keep the mission going.
Q: Why do you have a red hat? –Griffin
A: When Mrs. Claus went to make me my original outfit, that was the only cloth they had enough of because I had gotten so big! Then, it just seemed to become a tradition. To use the jargon of the marketing elves, I guess my red hat is now my band.
Q: Are you real or not? –Cade
A: I certainly think I’m real, and I certainly know that Christmas is real. I know that the work that Santa and all of Santa’s helpers do throughout the world is real. But it all depends on the beliefs and well wishes of those people who receive the gifts. So, I guess my final answer is I’m real if you want me to be. And, if not, I’ll just be real for everybody else.
Reach reporter Jenna Barackman at [email protected]
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