Santa likes to keep a few things secret so he can always surprise the kids he is visiting -- all he will say to this question is that he uses a little magic but he *always* finds a way!

Rudolph is almost always the lead reindeer thanks to his wonderful bright nose!

Why is Rudolph's nose so bright?

His nose is so bright because he was touched by Christmas magic which made his nose so red and shiny.

How do the reindeer fly?

A long time ago Santa and his helpers discovered magical oats and corn-- when the reindeer eat the oats and corn the deer become able to fly and leap high into the air.

Why can't I ever see Santa or his elves?

Santa and the elves are magical and move very quickly. Sometimes, if you are very good, you *might* catch a glimpse of an elf!

Through a combination of lots of practice and hard work, judicious use of time zones, and a little magic, Santa and the reindeer always make it in time.

How does Santa know whether I have been naughty or nice?

Santa maintains his naughty and 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 enough you *might* catch one peering in a window or around a corner, but you would have to be very fast and very good!

What kind of snack does Santa like left out for him?

Santa loves cookies, of course, but he is always happy to try anything you think he might like -- pick your favorite kind of cookie or snack and Santa and the reindeer will be happy! The reindeer love carrots and lettuce best, of course!

How many reindeer are in the north pole?

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

What are the names of Santa's reindeer?

The reindeer that pull the sleigh are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (or Donner, he likes both since some of the small reindeer have trouble saying 'Donder'), Blitzen, and of course -- Rudolph. There are many other reindeer who live at the North Pole but there is not room to list them all.

What do Santa and Mrs. Claus do during the spring and summer?

Santa and Mrs. Claus take a vacation after the holiday season. They like to see different parts of the world. Last summer they visited New Zealand, part of Europe, and the Florida Keys.

Why doesn't Santa always bring me what I asked for?

Thanks to the elves and your gift lists, Santa usually knows what presents you would like to receive. However, sometimes Santa also knows that your parents, family, or guardians have other special things in mind. Also, Santa does not like to bring gifts that he knows 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.

Santa first began climbing down the chimney for Dutch children. Similarly, the switches he leaves for naughty children originated with the Dutch. His red suit trimmed with white fur originated from the bishop's mitre and cape worn by the Dutch saint.

Lots and lots. I'm not sure if I can count high enough, but I eat a lot of cookies even though Mrs. Claus says to cut back on the number. Last year I ate so many I felt a little sick because of the sheer number of them, so this year I may eat a little less at each home.

How many kids do you deliver to?

We delivery to millions and millions of good children around the world who believe in Santa Claus -- the number changes every year because there are always children being born.

Has Santa ever missed a year?

No, Santa Claus has not missed a Christmas yet. At the North Pole we take many precautions so that nothing can go wrong on Christmas Eve. After so many years of practice we have plans for everything. There have been some close calls as you may see 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.

How many toys do you make in one day? 100? 40? 90? 50?

The only correct answer though, is that it depends. Some toys such as a set of wooden blocks takes much less time than a more complex toy such as a truck or car so the elves who 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!

How old is Santa, and when is Santa's birthday?

Well, lets just say that Santa stopped counting at 550 and leave it at that! There have been plenty of Christmas nights where I've done my part and plenty more to come!

Does Santa really need snow to make his Christmas deliveries?

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 to Florida, California, parts of Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, Africa and other areas 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.