Eight-year-old Emmy Duffy had just finished a few minutes with old St. Nicholas. Emmy had requested a stuffed kitty as a Christmas gift, and based on Santa’s reaction, things looked good for her Christmas wish.

With a sense of wonder in both Emmy’s eyes and Santa’s, he wished her the best in the Christmas season and thanked her for being such a good girl this year.     

It was quite a privilege, interviewing Santa Claus. Santa had put in an early appearance last week at the Mineola Memorial Library. While greeting some youngsters and discussing the upcoming big day, Santa generously agreed to answer a few questions.

It is not often that someone is described as ‘jolly,’ but that is exactly the word to describe him. Santa was in his full red and white splendor compete with heavy black boots – adorned with bells – and his notable Santa hat, sporting a Christmas Star on the hat.

His eyes were sparkling. They laughed as they cast about from behind a round face and a full white beard. One of those youngsters visiting Santa was Madelynn Smith of Mineola. She gave Santa a light tug on his beard just to be sure it was real. 

If there was one fact about the visit, it was this: Santa Claus is very real.

In between visitors, Santa shared a bit about his kingdom at the North Pole. He laughed, “My workshop? The workshop is a massive stone building, very well-built, been there for centuries.” He explained that there are thousands of elves working in shifts to produce the untold number of toys which are delivered each Christmas. 

And what about those elves? “What could I do without my elves?” Santa reflected. He explained they work tirelessly to produce the multitude of toys – hammering and building day after day.

Santa then highlighted a group of elves which are lesser-known, but just as important to his efforts. Elves-on-the-shelves he called them. Evidently, Santa employs a large number of elves, whose job it is to observe the conduct of young boys and girls, usually from a position high atop a shelf in the home. 

“My shelf-elves not only assist me in getting to all the homes, but their input is a great help in maintaining the list. They report back, you see,” he smiled. 

The list? “Yes, the list,” he explained, “the list of Nice Boys and Girls and the list of Naughty Boys and Girls.” So. There really was a list. “Yes, the list is practically endless, and we maintain it all year round,” he said.   

The interview was interrupted as Santa welcomed young Aurelia Gurney who quickly warmed up to him, and in a small voice, asked Santa for a Gabby dollhouse. Santa laughed and shared that he had already expected that she would be hoping for a dollhouse. 

Satisfied, Aurelia climbed off his lap and gave him a big hug before rejoining her family.

Santa, returned to his discussion of his elves. “They also tend the reindeer throughout the year,” he stated. It sounded like great fun tending the reindeer. “They are pretty busy in the Christmas season, practicing their flying skills,” Santa noted, “but for the balance of the year they just play their reindeer games.”

Reindeer aren’t the only animals under Santa’s care at the North Pole. “Oh goodness no,” he chuckled, “we have puppies and kittens and other animals, all to be delivered on Christmas morning.” It sounded like a busy place. 

And the glue which keeps the whole operation running smoothly, year after year? “Mrs. Claus, of course!” Santa exclaimed. Santa explained that Mrs. Claus is famous for her hot chocolate, but she is much more than that. He described her as the integral part of the whole system, making everything happen behind the scenes.

Nervously, I returned to the question of the Nice and Naughty Lists. Santa turned toward me and his face grew very serious. “Santa is very forgiving,” he whispered. He continued, “There is good in every single child, and every child must try to be good.” 

Relieved at this, we moved to another topic. Santa has some favorites. His favorite Christmas song is ‘Mary Did You Know,’ while his favorite toys are old favorites such as yoyos and tinker toys – toys that excite the imagination, he called them. 

He has had some heart-warming requests over the years. One little girl once asked him to bring back her grandmother who had just died. Santa had to explain to the little girl that he couldn’t bring her back because she was already in heaven. 

On another occasion, a youngster asked for a gift not for himself, but rather a gift for his younger brother. 

Children often leave Santa gifts which they make and set out on Christmas Eve. That makes him very happy, of course. 

Santa admitted, however, that the best gift he can ever receive is the pure joy which is in the faces of children. “Every child,” he shared, “has the potential to change the world, just as our Savior did.”

“I am as real as anything that has ever existed,” Santa said. “I am the love of accepting a gift, and the love of giving a gift. Everyone can have the heart of a servant and the spirit of giving,” he said with a smile and a nod.