THE NORTH POLE — Letters have been signed, sealed, delivered and lists have been checked twice. Boys and girls across the globe have begun the countdown to Christmas. Iola Register: You’ve made lots of appearances here in Allen County this year. Have you received lots of gift requests from the area children?
Santa took time out of his super busy schedule to let Register readers know how things are going up north, including how one becomes an elf, what reindeer eat and what Mrs. Claus wants for Christmas.
Santa Claus: Yes, iPads and iPods are the most popular. I try to explain to the children that Santa is on a budget and I’ll try the best that I can.
IR: Preparing for Christmas must keep you very busy during the year. Do you ever take a vacation? Maybe somewhere tropical?
SC: No, I like the North Pole and being with my elves and reindeer. Mrs. Claus is great company.
IR: You are very famous for your red suit. Have you ever thought about mixing it up and going for blue or green attire?
SC: No, I like red. It’s my favorite color.
IR: How is the naughty or nice list looking this season? How do you keep an eye on all the kiddos?
SC: I have a lot of help. I check with the school teachers and the parents. I’m very happy to say most children are on the nice list. We might have a few on the naughty list but not very many.
IR: How many elves do you have working for you? Is their an application process to become an elf?
SC: Mrs. Claus usually takes care of that. I have about 20 elves working right now. We have an apprenticeship program with the toy companies that can get them started with us.
IR: Do they get Christmas bonuses?
SC: Not really. They love their job. They know how many children they are making happy. That satisfaction is so tremendous.
IR: Is Rudolf’s nose really bright red? What do reindeer eat?
SC: Oh yes, Rudolf’s nose is really bright. I tend to only use him when it is very foggy out. Reindeer are vegetarians so I feed them hay and alfalfa. I like to give them a treat like a sugar cube.
IR: What makes your reindeer fly? Is it magic?
SC: It is totally magic. It is something beyond comprehension. I can’t even explain it. They can go so fast through the air.
IR: If you could have any other job what would it be?
SC: I don’t think I would ever want another job. I enjoy the children very much.
IR: How is Mrs. Claus? What is she up to these days?
SC: She goes with me when she can. She usually stays home and takes care of the elves. They are very hard workers but sometimes they get off task so it’s important to remind them we have a deadline.
IR: Do you know what she wants for Christmas?
SC: Mrs. Claus wants the kids to be happy and there to be peace on earth.
IR: How do you sneak inside people’s homes so easily? Have you ever run into issues with home security alarms?
SC: Very carefully. It all goes back to the magic. I have this ability to go through these systems without setting off alarms!
IR: How do you fit all of those presents on your sleigh? The gifts must make it very heavy.
SC: It does make it rather heavy. I have strong reindeer that can pull any type of heavy load very fast through the air.
IR: Where is your first stop on Christmas Eve?
SC: I usually go by time zones. In the U.S., I start on the East Coast and then progress through the nation by time zone. We take just a little break.
IR: Do you work all year round?
SC. We start making toys and knitting hats and gloves early in the year to build up an inventory.
IR: What would you like to say to the non-believers out there?
SC: The spirit of Santa Claus is real. Whether you believe he physically exists is your choice. We all know love. Giving is one of Santa’s virtues.
IR: What is your favorite Christmas song?
SC: Here comes Santa Claus…. Here comes Santa Claus… right down Santa Claus lane… Can you guess what it is. (haha)
Santa will be in his house on the Iola square from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and at the Humboldt Library from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday.
Straight from the source-The Register gets the scoop from Santa
