update Santa has declared that his sleigh this year will be named: Elsie.

This name was submitted on December 9th, 2012 by Emma of Manchester, England. She is the winner of this year’s sleigh naming contest!

Elsie is ready to go. Santa has the sleigh all loaded, the reindeer are hitched up, the crowds have gathered and everything appears to be ready. It is the moment we have been waiting for all year long! Santa will spend the next few minutes checking Elsie from top to bottom to make sure everything is safe and ready to go. Then he will give Mrs. Claus a kiss and launch on his 30 hour flight around the world. We will update you the moment he is airborne.

— Elf Ernest
Direct from Santa’s Newsroom at the North Pole

launchcountdown

Estimated Time to Launch: 15 minutes
Current North Pole Weather: 12 Degrees, Blizzard Conditions
Command Center Status: All systems are go, all lights are green
Santa’s Status: In the sleigh, testing communication systems.
Reindeer Status: Rarin’ to go!
Latest Secret Spy Reports: Muddy yard reported in Sydney; crowded conditions reported in Hong Kong; drifting snow reported in Siberia…
Where it is Christmas Eve now: All over the Far East
Where it is Christmas morning now: Nowhere