A sit down with Santa
SaltWire columnist Peter Simpson had a rare opportunity to interview Santa Claus just before the jolly old man in red and his nine reindeer flew off to visit the homes of children around the world.
SaltWire: It’s less than a week before you, Rudolph and the other reindeer leave the North Pole to travel around the world to deliver Christmas presents to millions of boys and girls. Are you excited?
Santa: Ho, ho, ho! I am very excited, and the reindeer are, too. Rudolph is making sure the jingle bells are sounding just right, so everyone will know when we are close to their neighbourhoods.
SaltWire: Are you confident the elves will finish making all the toys in time for Christmas?
Santa: Goodness me, yes, the elves work hard all year so they don’t disappoint even one boy or girl.
SaltWire: Besides Rudolph, what are the names of the other eight reindeer?
Santa: As you know, Rudolph has a bright red nose, so he leads the sleigh. His reindeer sleigh-mates are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. They love flying together.
SaltWire: How do you keep from falling asleep when you fly over the dark, vast oceans at night?
Santa: Santa never sleeps just before Christmas, but no matter where we fly, it’s never boring. Over the oceans, I have fun waving to all the people sitting inside airplanes, and it’s fun to see how surprised and merry they are when they notice the red sleigh and reindeer flying right beside them.
SaltWire: We live in an electronic age. Do you participate in any form of social media?
Santa: Of course I do. That’s how I keep track of who has been naughty and who has been nice.
SaltWire: You seem to always be jolly. Do you have any pet peeves?
Santa: It bothers me when older children tell the little boys and girls I’m not real. A few of my elves say I should give lumps of coal to the disbelievers, but I never like to be mean to anyone.
SaltWire: Do you a have a favourite Christmas song?
Santa: I have a few favourites, including Jingle Bells and, dare I say it, Here Comes Santa Claus.
SaltWire: With whom would you like to have dinner?
Santa: The Grinch. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with him. Maybe if he becomes a nice Grinch, we can be good friends one day. Until then, he is welcome to clean out my Reindeer stalls.
SaltWire: Do you get a lot of mail at the North Pole?
Santa: The North Pole post office receives thousands of bags of mail from children all over the world. In their letters they tell me what they want for Christmas and name their favourite reindeer.
SaltWire: Who do most of the children say is their favourite reindeer?
Santa: Rudolph, but that’s not surprising. Who doesn’t love a reindeer with a bright red nose?
SaltWire: What are your favourite activities during Christmas Eve?
Santa: Visiting homes all over the world, observing the many customs and celebrations, and enjoying the milk and cookies left for me by the boys and girls. I have to be careful I don’t wake them up while I’m filling their stockings with treats and leaving gifts under their decorated trees.
SaltWire: What are you most proud of in your life?
Santa: To have the privilege every year of putting smiles on children’s faces and joy in their hearts.
SaltWire: If you could make just two teaching comments to children of all ages, what would they be?
Santa: Strive to be nice every day, not just during Christmas, and be wellbehaved and respectful in the presence of your mom, dad, siblings and others. Remember, Santa is always watching you.
SaltWire: What plans do you have after the Christmas festivities are over for another year?
Santa: Well, I look forward to returning to the North Pole so the reindeers can take a well-deserved rest. Before the toy factory gets busy again, making gifts for next Christmas, Mrs. Claus and I will enjoy relaxing in front of our fireplace and drinking hot chocolate. We’ll invite the elves to join us.