51 Weeks Until Christmas

Hi Friends, there are 51 weeks until Christmas!

I know, I know. That sounds like such a big number.

It’s funny. The weeks roll by so fast and before you know it it’s Christmas Eve and we’re tracking Santa and then he does it – he goes around the world and everyone is so happy and they send in all kinds of thank you notes to Santa — and then everyone gets a little sad.

Seeing a number like 51 makes it seem like SUCH a long time until it’s Christmas again.

I understand. I got a nice little note from Emily, who is nine years old and just as nice as can be. She’s from Sector 5 in North America – somewhere in Canada, I think. She told me she would be a little sad if I put up a note today reminding everyone of how far the countdown would show that Christmas is now. She still wanted me to post something…but she did not want to be reminded of how many weeks away it is. She asked if anyone at the North Pole feels that way too.

And Emily – I gotta tell ya: no, that’s not how we see it. And I’ll tell you why. But you need to know a few details.

This was a very different Christmas. Normally there’s a big Christmas party that takes place at Santa’s house on Christmas as we follow the Santa Tracker map here on Santa Update. Of course, as you all know, there was no party tracking Santa this year because of all that stuff that happened in Santa’s workshop.

Mrs. Claus wasn’t home because she was piloting a sleigh that helped get all the Christmas presents and stuff from the North Pole to Sector 5.

Did you know that she barely got back ahead of Santa? Normally, she flies to meet up with Santa in Hawaii and she rides in with him when he comes home. It didn’t happen that way this year. She was barely back five minutes – she had just gotten into the Sleigh Barn — when Santa showed up. So they came home to their house together – and, of course, we were all mostly there ready for our better-late-than-never Christmas party.

It was fun. All the pressure was off. Santa had a successful flight and the world had a Merry Christmas. We were happy but very tired. We all slowly went home to sleep it off and then the next day – Christmas Day at the North Pole — we got together again.

That was a week ago now. And everyone has more or less caught up on their sleep.

Santa and Mrs. Claus have not left their home. They have been resting, eating well and enjoying Christmas and New Year’s together.

Santa has held no meetings. Every facility and workshop and meeting place has been closed. People here at the North Pole aren’t doing any work yet on Operation Merry Christmas 2026.

But they are talking. And they are talking excitedly. The countdown here never ends. Everyone always knows what time it is at the North Pole.

Come Monday, Santa’s going to be back at work. He joins the conversation then. This is the time of evaluation and planning. It’s always a goal to do better next year than we did this year.

And that is why all the elves are talking. They are thinking of all the things they thing Santa is going to think. They want to do better. And that is why nobody is looking at the countdown as something that is far away.

They know Santa is going to want to talk about it. They know Santa will set big goals. They know there will be good changes, and maybe some new challenges for some of us, and, as always, a forward looking and positive approach to the new year and to the next Christmas.

We love the countdown.

And don’t worry. Before you know it the time will be here to see Santa launch again.

I don’t know what is ahead for me, or for Santa, or for Mrs. Claus or for anyone else at the North Pole.

It’s a blank slate – a fresh start.

And a new story.

Won’t you come along with us for the ride?

Just 51 weeks, friends.

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Elf Trixie

Elf Trixie came to the North Pole on a scholarship to Southern North Pole University. She has been pursuing a degree in Journalism. She served as an intern in the News Department for a season before being hired as a reporter here at SantaUpdate.com and a columnist for the Santa Tracker Herald Star at SantaTrackers.net.

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