Leon Day Chat Recap
Leon Day, held every June 24th, marks the halfway point to Christmas. We marked the day here with a special chat featuring three elves – Elf Frank Myrrh of North Pole Radio news, Elf Dr. Grant Smedley of Southern North Pole University, and Elf Crash Murphy, International Director of Santa Trackers.
They covered a wide range of topics including a bit of the history of Leon Day, who the first reindeer was, updates to Kringle Radio, and answers to questions submitted by visitors to North Pole Chat.
Here is what happened:
Elf Frank Myrrh | Hello |
Elf Ernest | Ah, hello Frank. You’re a bit early! |
Weathertrackingelf | Hi Elf Frank, how are you doing today? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yeah, it’s a working Saturday for me. This is a break! |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Hello Weathertrackingelf! |
Elf Ernest | What kind of elf works on Leon Day? |
Weathertrackingelf | How are you doing today? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Doing well. We’re working on Kringle Radio today. The streams were supposed to be back up four days ago and we’ve had problems. |
Elf Ernest | I knew something was up. How is that going? |
Weathertrackingelf | I was wondering what was going on. Hopefully it gets fixed soon |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Good. We have the main stream up now and we should have the Santa tracker channel up in a few more hours. |
Elf Ernest | Well….what happened? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | A server move. We thought it was the time to do it, just before Christmas in July. Ran in to some problems. But I think we’re on the road back. |
Elf Ernest | Glad to hear that. I’ve got the stream, whatever one it is, running now on my speakers. It sounds really good to me! |
Weathertrackingelf | At least it’s getting up and going again |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, Elf DJ has worked really hard on it. It’s going to be better than ever |
Elf Ernest | So it’s working here…but not on SantaTrackers.net? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | We’re testing the main stream here for now because we know there will be people here today. It’s working, I just checked it myself. Later, after the chat, they will be likely switching on the tracker channel stream and it’ll go live at SantaTrackers.net |
Elf Ernest | Will it be different than it was before? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, very different. A lot more Christmas music. |
Elf Ernest | Wow…news before the chat! |
Elf Ernest | Where’s Elf Crash and Dr. Smedley? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Crash is still in bed. I called him to wake him up like he asked me to do. |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I’m not sure where Dr. Smedley is but I know he’ll be here. |
Weathertrackingelf | I have been missing listening to Christmas music, I do have another way of listening to Christmas music, but I prefer to listen to Christmas music on Santatrackers.net |
Elf Ernest | Ok, thanks! |
Elf Ernest | If you go to https://santaupdate.com/kringle-radio/ you can hear an older version of Sinatra singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, I have it on. Fabulous! |
Weathertrackingelf | Thank you Elf Ernest |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Gotta love anyone named Frank |
Elf Ernest | Hahaha! Good point! |
Elf Ernest | Speaking of hearing, I not heard a North Pole Radio News report from you for a few weeks |
Elf Frank Myrrh | We have some breaking news that I think will come out today if we get the story straight |
Elf Ernest | Oh? There’s something going on? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | A possible update on the search for Santa |
Elf Ernest | Oh…I didn’t hear that! |
Elf Frank Myrrh | We’re still working on it….trying to confirm |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I’ve got Agent X on the other line. They are trying to sort it out. |
Elf Ernest | Great….does that mean they’ve found Santa? |
Weathertrackingelf | Elf Frank, is it about the report o sent in the other day? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | No…but I think this could be a good lead |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I’m not up on all the reports. We are getting so many |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Did you send it in Weathertrackingelf? |
Weathertrackingelf | I did, I couldn’t get a picture, my phone was dead, , we had lost power and it was dark outside |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Hmmm…you’re in Sector 5, right? |
Weathertrackingelf | Yes I am |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Ok. I’m not sure yet where this lead came from. We have a lot from Sector 5. A bunch from Sector 3 and a few from Sector 1 |
Weathertrackingelf | Oh wow |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I got the first call from Agent X about five hours ago. That’s why I’ve been working today so far |
Elf Ernest | This sounds pretty fresh, Frank |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, it is…and it’s good to hear because since the Canada thing info about Santa has been scarce |
Elf Ernest | Perry Como now….I love this song…. |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, I’m listening….it’s awesome |
Elf Ernest | Hello, Dr. Smedley |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Hi Elf Ernest. |
Weathertrackingelf | Hi Dr. Smedley |
Elf Ernest | So glad you could make it today! |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Always a pleasure. |
Elf Ernest | Our chat will begin at the top of the hour. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Good. I just didn’t want to be late |
Elf cinnamon sticks | Hi |
Elf Ernest | No worries about that. I know how hard it is to get you scheduled. This should be fun |
Weathertrackingelf | Hopefully Crash makes it |
Elf Ernest | Folks, our chat will officially begin at the top of the hour. Elf Frank and Elf Dr. Grant Smedley are here. We are waiting on Elf Crash Murphy |
Elf Ernest | Just a reminder, this could be a busy chat today. So please be sure to pay attention and wait for instructions so we can get everyone’s questions answered. |
Weathertrackingelf | Will do Elf Ernest |
Elf Ernest | Feel free to chat for the next few minutes while we get ready |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Dr. Smedley, a quick question for you |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | okay |
Weathertrackingelf | Hi NotJack |
NotJack | Hi! |
Elf Frank Myrrh | How does your schedule look for July? Crash and I want to have you on the Santa Tracker Podcast |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It might have to be the 2nd or 3rd week of July. My NP lecture series begins the 3rd of July |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Ok, I’ll have our producer book with your secretary |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I look forward to it. What will our topic be? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Not sure yet. Crash and I are debating it. But I’ll let you know plenty in advance |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I always enjoy our discussions. |
Elf Ernest | About five more minutes folks until our chat begins. Please get your questions for Elf Dr. Grant Smedley ready. |
Weathertrackingelf | Hi Crash |
Crash Murphy | Good morning |
Crash Murphy | Have we started? |
Elf Ernest | No, not yet. You’re just in time |
Crash Murphy | Thought I was going to be late. |
Crash Murphy | Why do we do these things so early on a Saturday? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Haha – it’s not early, Crash |
NotJack | Yes why so early? |
Weathertrackingelf | Crash, it’s almost 10:00 am where I live in Sector 5 |
Elf Ernest | It’s difficult to find times that work for everyone. We have people joining from all over the world |
Elf Ulan | Happy Leon Day! |
Crash Murphy | I don’t even know what time it is here |
Elf Frank Myrrh | It doesn’t matter. The eye of the news camera never sleeps, Crash |
Weathertrackingelf | Can someone please get crash a big cup of hot cocoa |
Elf Ernest | Thank you for joining us today for North Pole Chat. We have three guests today – Elf Dr. Grant Smedley, Elf Frank Myrrh and Elf Crash Murphy |
Elf Ernest | Our main guest and a man we can usually only get here once a year is Elf Dr. Grant Smedley, profession of Santaclausology and North Pole History at Southern North Pole University |
Elf Ernest | You all likely know Elf Frank and Elf Crash, from their radio reports, podcasts and frequent chats |
Elf Ernest | All of these elves are here to answer any questions you might have |
Elf Ernest | There are quite a few people here today, including a GOOD crowd from the North Pole that you cannot see |
Maxy | Hello! |
Elf Ernest | That usually happens when we have Dr. Smedley here. His lectures are very popular. |
Elf Ernest | To do this chat, please post your questions one at a time. I’ll try to direct them to the right elf and they will answer as they come up. |
Elf Ernest | Elf Dr. Smedley, let’s take that question from Elf Cinnamon Sticks first |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Thank you for having me. I enjoy this. Christmas in July is not actually a North Pole invention. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It started well over a hundred years ago in major cities in what we now call Sector 5. It was started by merchants in large American cities. |
Maxy The Elf | Happy Leon Day! |
Elf Ernest | Why did they start it, Dr. Smedley? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It began simply as a way for merchants to have something to sell in July. Traditionally it is the worst time of the year for stores. |
Weathertrackingelf | What is the true meaning of Leon day? |
Elf Ernest | WeatherTrackingElf asks a great question for today! |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Leon Day is a North Pole invention! |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | We have for centuries utilized countdowns in our work as elves |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It is a halfway marker to Christmas |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | So an important date on any countdown calendar |
Elf Ernest | Who decided to call it Leon Day? |
Maxy The Elf | Yea who decided to call it Leon Day? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Well, an elf named….Leon Day. Elf Leon was a woodworker in Santa’s workshop |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And he was something of a prankster |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It was Leon who said that his name, Leon, was Noel spelled backwards and his birthday, by the way, was also on June 24th. This was all his idea, so it got named after him |
Elf Frank Myrrh | That’s a fantastic story! |
Maxy The Elf | Will Santa Join the Chat this Evening? |
J126 | Hello |
Maxy The Elf | Hello J126! |
Elf Ulan | Very interesting! |
Elf Ernest | From our mail, Dr. Smedley, we have a question about reindeer. Are you equipped to take that question? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I’ll do my best |
Elf Ernest | Elf Denny wants to know who was the first reindeer? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Oh, I love that question. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The first reindeer is a hotly debated thing between Donner and Blitzen |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Donner says he is the first reindeer, and Blitzen says Santa found him first |
Elf Ernest | So which is it? |
Maxy The Elf | Where Exactly did santa find his reindeer? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It’s both of them. Donner and Blitzen have been friends since they were born. Both are exactly the same age, come from the same area. Santa found them on an expedition to Northern Canada many, many years ago. He got caught in a blizzard and took shelter and found them there. He found he could communicate with them |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | They got to know each other. Soon they began working together |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And as you know they anchor Santa’s team today |
Elf Ernest | So really there is no “first reindeer”? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, they are both the first reindeer. |
Maxy The Elf | Where is the north pole? like the village or is that to much info? |
Crash Murphy | Amazing story. How did you learn it? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Santa himself told me that story |
Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, do you want to answer Maxy’s question? |
Weathertrackingelf | How come Rudolph is a very popular Reindeer? |
Elf Ulan | Awesome! |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, my pleasuire. The North Pole is roughly located in a very northern Artic region. Many people think of a village – and there is a village – but Santa has many parts to his operation and they are actually located all over the world. The North Pole is where his residence is and where the headquarters of his operations remain |
Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, can you answer Weathertrackingelf’s question about Rudolph? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Rudolph is so popular because his story is so well known through the song and the book and the TV movie |
Maxy The Elf | Oh! Thank you for asking my question! |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And that story is mostly true |
Maya | In which year was the first Leon day? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Rudolph is actually a very shy reindeer who doesn’t like to talk a lot about himself |
Elf Ulan | Is that the true story? |
Crash Murphy | Well, are you sure about that doc? I know Rudolph to be kinda out there |
Weathertrackingelf | I do like Rudolph, buty favorite Reindeer in Vixen |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I’ve talked with Rudolph, with Santa’s help. But you fly with him, Crash. I’m sure you know him better |
Crash Murphy | Yes, Vixen is a fiesty one! |
Elf Ernest | No, we have no indication Santa will be here today |
Crash Murphy | Yes, I think we were lucky last month when Santa crashed the chat party |
Maxy The Elf | Oh Alright! |
Weathertrackingelf | That’s why I like her |
Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, we have some questions here about Santa and walkabout. Can you speak to that? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I’ll try the best I can. But let me tell you straight up I don’t know where he is |
Crash Murphy | hahaha |
Elf Ernest | This walkabout thing has a few people confused. Where does Santa go on this thing? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Santa and I have talked about this some over the years. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | His goal on walkabout is to talk to people without them knowing he is Santa. |
Maya | In which year was the first Leon day? |
Elf Ulan | I read an elf saw him out of his house! |
Elf Ernest | Why does he NOT want them to know who he is? |
NotJack | What does he talk to people about? And why? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Walkabout is all about Santa learning things about the world and about people. It’s a training mission for Santa. If he goes out there as himself, he fears he won’t get the true picture of how things really are. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | He talks to people about how their life is, what is important to them, what they are worried about. He also asks them about Christmas and how they celebrate it. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Great question NotJack! |
Maya | Can you respond? |
NotJack | As a stranger? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Santa uses this time on walkabout to help shape his own views about Christmas. It’s a very advanced process. |
Weathertrackingelf | I’m glad he does his Walkabouts |
NotJack | Don’t people find it odd that a random person wants to know how they celebrate Christmas? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Santa’s fame is something of a problem for him. He’s very popular. Everywhere he goes he gets mobbed by people. So he goes on walkabout incognito every few years because it is important to him to get the education he seeks without distraction |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Not really, NotJack. Many people love to talk about Christmas. |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | But imagine it: would your answers about Christmas be different if you knew you were talking to Santa? |
Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, the follow up question about Leon Day – when was the first Leon Day? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The exact year of the first Leon Day was not recorded but our best estimates is that it began in 1912. |
Maya | Thank you! |
Elf Ernest | So elves 200 years ago didn’t celebrate Leon Day? |
Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | They have always marked the halfway point to Christmas. It’s a big day. But it wasn’t called Leon Day until around 1912. |
Elf Ernest | Folks, our time for today is about spent. Are there any questions for Elf Frank or Elf Crash? |
Weathertrackingelf | I have a question for Frank |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Ok |
Weathertrackingelf | How long have you been doing the radio? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I started in radio when I was in high school. I worked at the high school station. I knew then this is what I wanted to do with my life. |
Crash Murphy | That’s Frank’s way of saying he’s older than dirt |
Elf Frank Myrrh | That’s true. I’m an old guy for sure |
Weathertrackingelf | That’s awesome. Crash, how long have you been the Eye in the sky for? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | But I love working for Santa. This is the best job in the world for me. |
Elf Ulan | Elf Frank, can we request Christmas music onradio |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I’m very lucky |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Elf Ulan – the radio work is going to be complete this weekend on SantaTrackers. And it will be better than ever. And yes, Elf DJ tells me they are working on a “request” feature, though that won’t be ready for a few dayas |
Weathertrackingelf | Crash, how long have you been the Eye in the sky? |
Crash Murphy | I’ve been the Eye in the Sky reporter for only about 12 years now |
Weathertrackingelf | Oh wow, that’s a long time |
Elf Frank Myrrh | The radio for the Santa Trackers channel will be so much bigger than it was. I saw the list – and it’s better than 52 gigs of music. HUGE |
Weathertrackingelf | That’s huge Frank |
Crash Murphy | Actually, it’s a short time. I’m not a natural radio guy like Frank |
Crash Murphy | He’s the man with the golden voice |
Elf Ulan | Thank you. Wonderful! How to send a request? |
Weathertrackingelf | I love listening to your reports Crash |
Elf Frank Myrrh | I’m not sure yet how the request feature will work, Elf Ulan. Some sort of form. |
Elf Ernest | Will there still be shows on there, like Crash’s show? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, but I understand the shows are shaking up a bit too. Not sure I’ve been told just how |
Elf Ulan | Okay, thank you. I’d like to do it! |
Elf Ernest | Ok, thanks everyone for being here. Elf Dr. Grant Smedley, thank you. Any last questions? |
Elf Ernest | Just a heads up, Elf Frank shared before the chat that we might have some news reported later today with an update on the search for Santa |
Crash Murphy | We….do???? |
Elf Ulan | What are you doing for Leon Day today there? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Yes, get your elf butt over to the studio, Crash. I’ll fill you in. |
Weathertrackingelf | Yes, what’s the news Frank? |
Crash Murphy | OKay…wow, it’s Saturday! |
NotJack | Any hints on what it is? |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Can’t share the news yet, we’re working on the story. Hopefully we’ll report later this afternoon |
NotJack | Darn |
Crash Murphy | My messages say something about South America |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Maybe, maybe not Crash |
Weathertrackingelf | I will have to keep checking in later today to get the news then |
Elf Frank Myrrh | It’s a quickly developing situation |
Elf Ernest | Ok, thanks everyone for being here! |
Elf Ulan | Can’t wait! |
Crash Murphy | Yes, good chat! |
Elf Ulan | Thank you! Happy Leon Day! ^^ |
Maya | Bye! |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Outstanding chat. Thanks Dr. Smedley! |
Elf Frank Myrrh | Happy Leon Day! |
Weathertrackingelf | Bye Elves |
NotJack | Happy Leon Day everyone! See you later! |
Elf Ernest | Bye everyone! |
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Thank you, Elf Winslow. Thank you, Dr. Smedley; I learned a lot about Christmas in July and Leon Day. It was a fascinating and great chat. I wished my brain could work well; it was midnight, and I was so sleepy then, lol. And Elf Winslow, please join a chat; you know last Santa’s walkabout, right? Thank you, Elves Frank and Crash; the renewal radio is awesome, and I listen to it daily. I hope we can soon hear the next podcast with Dr. Smedley and, of course, Elf Crash’s third radio show too! D