Happy Leon Day!

Big, big day here at the North Pole! It’s the 24th and that marks 6 months until Christmas Eve – Yay! We’re half way there.

Leon Day is officially a thing. All around the world millions are wishing each other a Happy Leon Day.

Leon is NOEL spelled backwards, just so you know.

For many, many people a mini-celebration of Christmas begins with this day. For some, the season itself starts.

Down in the South Pacific, for example, since they don’t have winter weather at Christmastime they celebrate a little Christmas now…when it IS winter weather for them.

Leon Day means they bring out their sleighs and their sleds. They light their trees and build snowmen. And yes, some wish each other a Merry Christmas.

Here at the North Pole, it is summer. Which means that we still have snow, of course. Just not much as we usually do. There is grass in some spots. And a few precious hours of bright, warm daylight.

Leon Day at the North Pole is Backwards Day. We do everything backwards today.

We sing Christmas carols backwards. We hang candy canes upside down. We even walk backwards today.

It is such a silly day. A lot of fun!

Speaking of fun, be sure to check in here around the 14th or so of July. For ten whole days we celebrate Christmas in July here at the North Pole. It’s a summer party you don’t want to miss.

— Elf Ernest

Happy May!

It is the 24th of the month and you know what that means! Only 7 months now remain until Santa flies. It’s going by so quickly!

We had a very important seminar this week at the North Pole. The Tracking Department held their annual meetings about planning Santa’s flight. They brought in experts from all over the world to talk about time zones, flight in heavy atmospheric conditions, sleigh efficiency and stuff that serious Santa trackers need to know about.

I attended because I wanted to understand how to better report the news on Santa’s flight.

It was really interesting talking about how time works in different parts of the world.

For example, it is as I write this 10:24 pm in London. Yet my world clock shows it being 3:54 am right now in India. At this very moment!

Isn’t that interesting? I think this year we will talk a lot more about the different times around the world as Santa flies. I don’t think a lot of people understand it.

Oh, by the way, I told you a few months ago I would tell you about plans Santa and Mrs. Claus are making for their vacation. They are leaving in a couple of weeks and plan to take an express sleigh first down into Canada to visit some family. Then they plan to attend a few ball games down in the United States before heading over to Europe to enjoy some sights in Switzerland. They plan to return home before Leon Day to get ready for Christmas in July at the North Pole.

— Elf Ernest

Happy April greetings!

Know what I saw the other day? Grass!

It is winter a little longer here at the North Pole than it is in many parts of the world but the snow is melting and the days are getting longer. It rained a little the other day and I saw grass for the first time since last fall.

Know what they call that?

A sign.

It is a sign that the seasons are changing and they change quickly. Winter changes to Spring which quickly changes to Summer. And before it the pumpkins will be here and we’ll all be talking about Christmas.

We tend to think of it as so far away right now. But I tell you it will be here before we know it.

How are things really at the North Pole? Are we on track? Can Santa be ready in time?

To be honest, things look pretty good right now.

Everyone is working hard, getting a lot done. There are no major news stories here to talk about, no major disruptions. Everything is moving along as it should.

Christmas appears in no danger here.

— Elf Ernest