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FAQ for Santa

Some questions you might be asked to answer as a TeleSanta and how you might want to answer them!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • "The reindeer that pull the sleigh are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and of course – Rudolph. There are many other reindeer, thousands really, that live at the North Pole and at North Pole Village."

  • "Rudolph is almost always the lead reindeer thanks to his wonderful bright nose! Especially when it is foggy or real dark. But sometimes, when the weather is clear, he and the other reindeer take turns leading the sleigh."

  • "His nose is so bright because he was touched by Christmas magic, which made his nose so red and shiny. At first everyone stayed away from him because he was different, but with his bright nose he helped save Christmas one year many years ago. After that everyone learned we can all overcome our differences if we try."

  • "Besides the reindeer that pull the sleigh, there are lots of other reindeer that live at the North Pole Village, too many for even Santa to count or keep track of these days!"

  • "Yes, I have a Son and Daughter; they both work here at North Pole Village. Both of them are outdoorsy, my Son is a reindeer trainer and my Daughter is an exercise rider. Mrs. Claus and I are extremely proud of both of them. Santa also considers all the children in the world a part of his family."

  • "The magic of believing many say, but we really do not know, except they love to fly and they are most happy in the sky. And then some think it is their food, they eat magic oats and corn and when they get special treats of carrots and sugar cubs they jump for joy and fly high into the air."

  • "Well when I am on the ground they are practicing flying, which they do all year round, they fly so fast I don’t see them myself, but on Christmas Eve when I am in my sleigh and they are taking me on my rounds it is Magic how swift they are. Reindeer also love the high altitude where it is cold like the North Pole."

  • "Santa gets around a lot of ways. Of course, I have the sleigh drawn by a great team of reindeer, but I also have a sled and a team of dogs, a car, an airplane, a snowmobile and a helicopter. Plus I get lots of special rides on trains, planes, fire engines and even hot air balloons. Santa uses whatever means of transportation is best suited to the weather conditions and the purpose of my traveling."

  • "Well it is a little difficult to give direction, because the North Pole is not stationary, the water above which is thick ice is constantly moving because of the ocean currents. If I were to give you directions on where we were by the time you got here we wouldn’t be there. If it were not for my reindeer’s keen sense of direction I might get lost too."

  • "Shhh! We don’t use that word here. I am extremely lucky, because in my world money doesn’t exist. The important thing is that Santa knows how to drive almost anything. Mrs. Claus and I also like to travel by train, boat and plane. And I enjoy long flights as I usually take a long nap on the flight."

  • "The North Pole is my permanent residence and the place I love the most. But, throughout the year I visit many cities and countries, where I stop and stay for a few days. Many of my favorite places to visit are a secret known only to Mrs. Claus and me."

  • "Well, during the weeks before Christmas I visit with thousands of children, their families and friends. In doing so I give up the time I have to spend with Loved Ones. So, in the days after Christmas and through the New Year, I enjoy a belated Holiday Season with my family, my elves and my friends. It’s a little like a vacation. Then it’s time to begin the planning for next Christmas."

  • "Mrs. Claus and I take vacations during the spring and summer months. We like to see different parts of the world together. I enjoy seeing the sites I miss during the night dark of Christmas Eve that I really enjoy revisiting in the day time, you see so much more of the world and meet wonderful children and parents."

  • "Santa relaxes by walking in our forest just outside North Pole Village and listening to the voices of the wilderness. I also spend time preparing for next Christmas delivery by reading children’s letter. You know children write me all year long and I so do look forward to hearing from each of them. My favorite pastime is reading books and listening to music."

  • "Why yes, I understand a little animal language. But actually the animals are very smart and they totally understand everything that I say. Have you found that you do not always understand one of your pets, but they understand things that you say or tell them. It’s really remarkable."

  • "It was a hand-carved piece of wood that looked like a dog; I carved it for a little boy. All the other children heard about this and wanted me to make them one. I called the wooden carving a TOY… the first time the word was ever used. From that time forward children have called fun things to play with TOYS."

  • "I enjoy giving toys to good boys and girls, and I love the smiles that appear on your face and every child’s face when I make them happy."

  • "It’s different everyday. It all depends! Some toys such as a set of wooden blocks take much less time than a more complex toy such as a truck or car. So, the elves that make complex toys tend to make fewer per day than the elves who work on other toys. The real important point is that each toy is made and given with lots of love!"

  • "Not all of them. Some are made at home, and they are especially precious. You’ve surely heard of homemade jelly or mustard or hand knit wool socks. In some places there are little workshops that also help Santa by making gifts."

  • "That’s something no one knows exactly. Elves are such fast little people, and they are rarely ever all in the same place at the same time. But when the sun sets in the North Pole, there are probably as many little elf toes under the blankets as there are stars in the night sky, if not more."

  • "Actually it’s almost like 2 nights…because when it is day on one part of the world…it is night on the other…so I deliver on one side…then the other side of the world when it turns night. So I don’t have to deliver all the toys in one night you see."

  • "Santa takes advantage of the differences between time zones. When children in Finland are awake, the children in Japan are sleeping and vice-versa. There is also some magic involved. Sometimes I might leave the presents for elves to deliver. The most important thing is that the gifts get there on time."

  • "Santa delivers gifts on Christmas Eve just as the Magi took gifts to the Christ Child. People continued the tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Eve, so they would be found on Christmas morning."

  • "No, Santa does not need snow everywhere to make deliveries. As long as there is snow somewhere in the world (and there always is) the deliveries will go through! After all, Santa delivers in Florida, California, Mexico, Africa and other countries that have no snow. However, snow always makes it much more beautiful and I always love seeing the holiday lights and homes nestled in the snow."

  • "This is how it works: the elf secretaries keep exact records of all children by country, by state or province, by city or town, by village or quarter, by house or apartment building, by bedroom, and by bed. These records are used to plan the delivery route and the gift distribution. It’s very exacting work, and 284 elves work in that department year round."

  • "Santa first began climbing down the chimney for children in Italy. Similarly, the switches I leave for naughty children originated with the Dutch. My red suit, trimmed with white fur, originates from the Bishop’s Miter and cape."

  • "If that happened, my gift delivery route would get cut short. Santa has a big book entitled, “Chimneys of the World” and in that book you can find information on the construction of all the world’s chimneys. It’s important to know how to get into them, and that is Santa’s specialty."

  • "Santa likes to keep a few things secret so I can always surprise the children I am visiting. All I will say is that I use a little Magic Key. I always find a way!"

  • "Santa maintains my Naughty or Nice list (now computerized, by the way), with the help of all the elves who keep track of each person – you probably aren’t even aware they are around you, but elves have a special way of keeping an eye on you. Sometimes if you look quickly you might catch one peering in a window or around a corner, but you would have to be very fast and very good! When Santa does visits before Christmas to turn the lights on the Christmas tree he sometimes brings his “Naughty or Nice Log” which will have just the pages for the children in the home he is visiting."

  • "Thanks to the elves and your gift lists, I usually know what presents you would like to receive. However, sometimes I also know that parents, family and guardians have other special things in mind. Also, I do not like to bring gifts that I know your parents, etc. would prefer you not to have – such as a horse, or a space shuttle, or other gifts that would not be appropriate."

  • "We deliver to millions and millions of good children around the world who believe in Christmas and Santa Claus. The number changes every year because there are always children being born."

  • "No, Santa has not missed Christmas yet. At the North Pole Village we take many precautions so that nothing can go wrong on Christmas Eve. After so many, many years of practice we have plans for everything. There have been some close calls as you may have seen on television, but everyone here loves Christmas so much that we all work extra hard to make sure that Christmas is as fun as it is supposed to be."

  • "Santa loves cookies, of course, especially chocolate chip. But I am always happy to try anything you think I might like – pick your favorite kind of cookie or snack and Santa will be happy!"

  • "That’s something not even Santa can remember exactly. Once when I was sitting in my favorite chair in front of the fireplace in my home at the North Pole Village, I began to count how many Christmases I could remember. But when I got some place around 364, I fell asleep. I realized it was not really that important."

  • "Mrs. Claus made Santa’s first suit and chose red because it was a bright and cheerful color. It also made me stand out from other grownups and the children could see me better. And every year, since that first Christmas Eve I have worn a red suit. Some of the Elves have now joined with Mrs. Claus making all of Santa’s clothing, I wear white shirts when it gets warm and even a vest, but red is the key color."

  • "Why yes indeed! It’s my very own. It would be too expensive to rent one all the time. My big boots are my own, too. And so are my white shirts, red shirts, vests, red socks, red shorts (for warm summer visits to Florida, California, Mexico or Africa) and I have a wonderful colorful woolen sweater. Everything I wear is my own."

  • "Santa Claus is always good. Sometimes I must be strict, but I am always fair. I always love you."

  • "Sometimes Santa gets a little angry, sad and upset. When I see little boys and girls not listening to their parents or being mean to their brother, sister and friends, when they don’t pick up their room that is when Santa is most disappointed and sad. Sometimes I am really upset if I hear about places in the world where they don’t care for the well-being of children."

  • "Oh, yes. Well sometimes I may forget a word or two, but most of the time when I am walking outdoors you can hear me singing them. Every now and then I compose new ones, too."

  • "Indeed I do, and I use them regularly. I like to swim best in the summer but I am known to jump into the icy cold water and play with Polar Bears, but I always make sure the Elf lifeguards are on duty."

  • "Oh, yes, I get them often. But the best gifts I like are not in boxes and wrapped in colorful paper. The best gifts, in my opinion, are the happy smiles of children, like you, and the joyful look in their eyes. The Miracle of Christmas is in the eyes of Children."

  • "Yes, each and every one."

  • "Elves help me listen, and on a quiet summer night even a whisper easily carries all the way to my North Pole Village."

  • "Maybe not every thought, but at least the thoughts that children want me to read definitely come through. There is a special level of understanding between children and Santa Claus."

  • "I am sure that all children are good down deep. If a child is hungry or tired, it’s only natural that crabbiness can sneak in unaware. Voicing disappointment or bad feelings has nothing to do with being good."

  • "I think every country has a different name for me. In Finland I am called Joulupukki, and in America, Santa Claus. In Great Britain they call me Father Christmas. If I remember correctly, in Germany I am called Weihnachtsmann, and in Holland near by, Kerstman. I have all these names and many more, because I am so well-loved."

  • "Santa loves to see surprise and joy on our faces when we open them!"

  • "Exactly one more than all the people in the world"

  • "Santa only appears to be old. I am really a kid at heart! (and maybe I’m really a kid in disguise!)"

  • "Well, let’s just say that Santa stopped counting at around 364 because I fell asleep and just leave it at that. There have been plenty of Christmas nights where I’ve done my part and plenty more to come!"

  • Unfortunately yes! Santa’s Christmas Magic can stop only if Boys and Girls stop believing in me. Without children believing in Christmas and Santa Claus there would be no need to deliver toys…and thus the Magic of Christmas would be no more.

  • OH YES! of every boy and girl were to close their eyes and say out loud, “I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS!” 5 to 10 times, then the Magic of Christmas grows stronger and stronger. You must say it from the HEART and you must really mean it…for if you do…you will share some of the Magic that is all around you.

  • Carrots and sugar cubes.

  • "Well it was 1938, the year we had so much fog."

  • "Well the estimated cruising speed is around the speed of sound, about 750 MPH."

  • "The time zones help, but so do the reindeer and Santa’s special magic."

  • "Actually, his red toy sack is magical in that it is bottomless and continues to stay full until Santa has made all his deliveries to all the children around the world."

  • "He holds the left side of his nose and shrinks to the size of the chimney–then, holds right side of his nose to expand back to his rather large size."

  • "Santa loves to play games and can’t wait each year to try out the new ones. In addition he loves toys and playing with them."

  • "Well Santa named them with the help of the Elves."

  • "Santa loves all the elves equally, they are like his children."

Children have curious minds, which means you'll get plenty of questions about your job as St. Nicholas / Santa that you'll be expected to have an answer for on the spot.  We've compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions and the answers our Santas have given.

Closing Statement

The following can be the closing statement for all Christmas calls and in-person appearances to children by our church Santas:

“You know, _______ (child’s name), my real name is Saint Nicholas and I want to bring the spirit of Christmas to you….It is the spirit of God‘s love. God gave the best gift to you when He sent His beloved son Jesus to be born on Christmas day!


Always remember (child’s name), that God loves you. Now you can share the spirit of Christmas by giving your love to your family and friends.


Merry Christmas! HO, HO, HO!!”

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