Santa Claus chats online

Welcome to our online chat with Santa Claus.

The chat took place on Thursday, Dec. 22, at 3 p.m. and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: Hello and welcome to our chat today with one of the most famous celebs of all time – Santa Claus.

The jolly old elf himself was able to take time from his pre-Christmas work load to chat with our readers this afternoon.

I’m Dave Toplikar, World Online editor, and I’ll be serving as the moderator today, handing off your questions to Santa.

We’ve already had a lot of questions that have come in, so we’ll get started.

Santa Claus: Hello internet world. This is Santa and I am ready to answer your questions. Look forward to hearing from you.

Trina, Lawrence: Santa, what book are you currently reading?

Santa Claus: After the holidays, Santa is going to take a long rest and read “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman. I have been so busy the past several months that I have not had time to read much lately.

Emily, 4, Lawrence: I want to know if when you see people sleeping and awake if you see them one at a time or all at once.

Santa Claus responds to the questions of all the good boys and girls.

Santa Claus: Hi Emily

Most of the time everyone is asleep when I get to their house. However, there are some night owls that I have to watch out for. It is best that I visit the houses when everyone is asleep because I have so many houses to visit Christmas Eve.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Janelle and John Linwood, Kan.: How do you know who has been bad and who has been good?

Santa Claus: Santa gets his information from lots of sources. When it is collected, I keep a record of it at the North Pole. Fortunately, most children I have found to be very good. Thus, my bad list is very short.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Marian, Lawrence: What time do you usually leave on Christmas Eve to deliver presents?

Santa Claus: I have to leave at approximately 10:16 a.m. in the morning of Christmas Eve. That gets me to my first stop just as the children are going to sleep. Then, Santa follows the darkness around the world. When you are opening packages, I am still working in the Pacific area. I get back to the North Pole late Christmas day.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Marian, Lawrence: Are the gas prices this year a factor for you?

Santa Claus: Great Question but gas prices do not impact Santa. We have a bigger problem with the price of carrots and other reindeer food. Rudolph and the other reindeer power Santa’s sleigh.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Michael, Omaha, Neb.: Santa, has your naughty list grown or shortened the last couple years? Have you seen any kind of trend in peoples’ behavior recently?

Santa Claus: Dear Michael

You asked a very interesting question. One of the nice things about my job is that I get to visit lots of families and children. It is my experience that there are lots of very nice families doing their very best to raise their children and create a loving environment. The length of the list of naughty has not grown recently. Fortunately, the list of bad children is very short.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Fally, Lawrence: Some European countries claim you are actually the former Bishop of Turkey and that you live in Spain. What’s the deal?

Santa Claus: Very interesting question. My original name was Saint Nicholas and I was a Bishop in Myra in Turkey in approximately 325 AD. It was a long time ago. One of the things that I was known for was giving a dowry to each of three, very poor, young ladies when it was time for them to get married. You can always see three bags in any picture of me. Now you know.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Kim, Lawrence: Are you feeling theocratic today? Targeted? What does Rudolph see ahead?

Santa Claus: I am feeling very tired today. It has been a very busy week. It is funny that you asked this question because Rudolph and I were just talking about the future. In fact, we are thinking about putting a GPS system in the sleigh and hooking it up to the Internet. You could then track us everyday. While we have lots of problems, we also think the world is a pretty good place to live. There are lots of good people in it.

Thanks for asking.

Jacob Rosenbalm: Dear Santa,

Why don’t you ever visit Jewish homes? I have been waiting a long time and have never received anything I have asked you for. I am a good boy and am tired of playing with dreydles. Please visit me this year.

Jacob

Santa Claus: Thanks for the question. I have asked one of our Jewish elves to respond to your question.

Jewish elf: Dear Jacob

My name is Laura. I am one of Santa’s Jewish elves. i know you may think that you are tired of playing with dreydles, but being Jewish is a wonderful thing – there are many more holidays that you can celebrate and, as you get older, you can take off work for them as well. Also, Jewish food is much better than Christmas food. Don’t you eat latkes?

Oliver Lawrence: My 5-year-old son would like to know how you get into our home to deliver presents for his little brother and him even though we do not have a chimney for you to go down.

Santa Claus: Oliver. There are a lot of houses that do not have chimneys. So, I have to look for other ways to get inside. Most of the time, I enter through a door or window. Other times I have to be more creative. Only one time, a long time ago, could I not enter a house over in England. I think it was a large castle. All other times, I have found a way.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Chloe, Lawrence, KS: Dear Santa:

Thank you for visiting my home each year. I hope you enjoyed the cookies we left out last Christmas. What is the best thing about being Santa?

Santa Claus: I remember getting your cookies and they were very good. I wonder why I get so fat but Santa really likes cookies.

I always enjoy visiting your house. The best part of being Santa is finding all of the good children in the world.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Darcy, 5, Lawrence: My dad needs a tool box for Christmas. I told him he was probably on the naughty list. So he probably wasn’t going to get it. But I’m wondering if my daddy is on the naughty or nice list. His name is Jesse. He needs a place for his tools.

Santa Claus: I will have to check my list on Christmas Eve. Hope your dad gets a place to store all of his tools. What type of tools does he have??

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Joey, Lawrence: Dear Santa,

Are you going to visit the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan? How are you going to protect you and your reindeer?

Santa Claus: Of course I will. Because of the time differences, that is close to where I start delivering presents on Christmas Eve. Sometimes you can see me on the evening news visiting the soldiers.

They are doing a good job.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Janelle and John, Linwood, Kan.: Do you listen to music between houses? What kind of music do you like?

Santa Claus: Santa is so busy on Christmas Eve, he does not have time to listen to music. However, when he is home with Mrs. Claus, we like to listen to all types of music. As long as it rocks, Santa likes it.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Mary-Ann, Ottawa: I just wanted to ask that you bring my family good joy for the holiday season. I also ask that you take the little kids from Louisiana lots of extra gifts because they deserve it.

Santa Claus: Mary-Ann. Thank you for such a nice e-mail. It is the best part of my job. The elves have been talking about the kids involved in the hurricanes. They have all decided to work extra hard to help them out.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Derek, Lawrence: Santa, I just want to say thanks for all the great gifts you left for me in past years. Yet, why didn’t I ever get the drum kit I so dearly longed for?

Santa Claus: Don’t give up. Someday you might be surprised. In the meantime, learn to play some musical instrument. Santa enjoys playing the piano during the off season.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Hollyce, Topeka: Santa, do you listen to music as you’re making your deliveries in your sleigh and if so, what type? I have to have the radio on when I’m driving.

Santa Claus: Hollee. I am so busy on Christmas Eve, I do not have time to listen to music when making my deliveries. When I am at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus and I enjoy all types of music. Santa really likes the music that rocks.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Lawrence: I want a pony for christmas…please can I have one? Please!?!?

Santa Claus: Thank you for your request. Santa gets lots of requests for ponies. However, they take lots of care and food. Also, they are hard to fit in the sleigh.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Connor, Eudora: Could you tell Rudolph that I like his shiny nose?

Santa Claus: I will give him the message. I like his nose also.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Ashtyn, Wellsville: dear.Santa Claus

Do you really have elves and a red nosed reindeer?

Merry Christmas!

Love Ashtyn

Santa Claus: Of course I do. I could not do all of the work by myself. Rudoph allows us to see at night so he is very valuable.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Ethan, 6, Shawnee: How do you get your reindeer to fly? What do you do to get them to slow down and speed up?

Santa Claus: The reindeer know how to fly when they are born. We have secret signals that we use so the reindeer know when to speed up and slow down. The reindeer always want to go fast and never want to slow down.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Lydia, 6, Shawnee, Kan.: How are you doing? Are you and the reindeer feeling OK? I hope you are not sick.

Santa Claus: I am doing very well. Obviously, everyone at the North Pole is very tired but we are also very excited because Christmas is coming soon.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Baillie, Lawrence.: What do your reindeer like to eat?

Santa Claus: They like to eat carrots and other reindeer food. Their favorite food is reindeer moss and for desert they like to munch on small trees. They are found at the North Pole.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Mary Lou, Lawrence: Dear Santa, I’ve been good, and my KC Royals need a power hitting outfielder, speedy, with great fielding skills. Can you get us one of those for Christmas, even if it comes a little late, but in time for Spring Training?

Drive safely, pet all the reindeer for me.

GO SANTA, and GO ROYALS!!!

Santa Claus: I am more into gifts – not miracles!

The reindeer are doing great.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Stacy, Lawrence: Santa, My cousin told me you weren’t real and I told him you were. Since he doesn’t believe me, will he still get presents?

Santa Claus: Of course he will. Thanks for standing up for me.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Sam & Ben Overbrook: Do you have an XBox 360 in stock for Sam and Ben?

Santa Claus: we have a lot of requests for those this year. I will let you know on Christmas.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Matt, Lawrence: How fast does your sleigh go and have you ever been pulled over by the police for speeding?

Santa Claus: I am so glad you asked. Santa got a sledometer a couple of years ago. My sleigh goes 575 mph on a good night. Since i am in the sky, the police do not bother me.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Freddie from Lawrence: How is Global Warming affecting operations at the North Pole

Santa Claus: The days are getting warmer and we prefer the cold. Hope you folks turn down the heat.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Lili (5) from Lawrence: Santa-

We will be staying at my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. Will you bring my toys to her house?

Santa Claus: Thanks for letting me know where you are going to be. The presents will be there. Give your grandmother a hug from Santa

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas.

Jalen, Lawrence,KS: Dear Santa,

I have been pretty good at school so far,

and I am 7 years old,

It would be okay if I got something for Christmas I want The Polar Express DVD and Connect Four and also something good to eat on Christmas,

Thanks,

Jalen

Santa Claus: Glad to hear that you have been pretty good and that you are doing good at school. That is very important.

Thanks for letting me know what you would like.

Merry Christmas

Ethan, Shawnee, Kan.: What do you do to your reindeer to get them to fly?

How do you get them to go fast and slow?

Santa Claus: The reindeer know how to fly when they are born. We have secret signals that we use so the reindeer know when to speed up and slow down. The reindeer always want to go fast and never want to slow down.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Jesse, Lawrence: How many cookies have you eaten? Does your mom make you eat broccoli?

Santa Claus: Lots. Yes, but I like broccoli.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Max (3), Lawrence: My little brother, Henry, and I would like to know, will you still come to town even if there isn’t any snow?

Santa Claus: Absolutely. We are independent of the weather.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Emilly Chanute, Kan.: How do you make all of those toys?

Santa Claus: I have lots of very good elves. They are the best.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Angela, Lawrence: Hello Santa,

Hope to hear that Mrs, Claus, the Elfs Reindeers and yourself had a wonderful. I have a co-worker Tonya who claims to have been a good girl this year. She is inquiring to know what she may be getting for chirstmas. Santa Please treat her good!

Merry Christmas ;o)

the group.

Santa Claus: they are all great. Santa does not give out advanced gift information over the Internet. Sorry. Santa rules.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Rachel B, Lawrence: Is Rudolph’s bright red nose too bright for you sometimes?

Santa Claus: Never. One always needs light.

Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas

Joel, Lawrence: What kind of horse power you got under the hood of that there sleigh of yours

Santa Claus: 8 reindeer and Rudolph.

Sarah Lawrence: Santa, How much can I bribe you to take me off of the naughty list?

Santa Claus: You can only do that by being good.

Jay: Santa, can you please bring the Jayhawks a bowl victory for Christmas?

Santa Claus: I am more into gifts not victories or defeats. However, we follow the Jayhawks at the North Pole.

Go Hawks

Moderator: Santa, that will be our last question today. Thanks for taking an extra-long time to stay here and answer all of our readers’ questions.

Santa Claus: Thanks for the opportunity to visit with you. It is always fun to answer your question.

Mrs Claus and I wish all the people of the world a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope that the new year brings you the very best. We will be checking on you.