Snowy greetings from the North Pole!

It’s the 24th of the month and that means there are only 11 months until Santa rides again.

Seems a long way away, doesn’t it?

I know many of you feel that way but I don’t. In fact, when I look at the work before us I wonder if we will have the time to get it all done.

We’re hard at work already. January is about meetings and plans and goals and quotas and thinking how much we’ll need of this and that to get everything done.

It is far too early to worry or think about whether the reindeer are ready or if the suit fits or just what will be the big story of Christmas.

Last Christmas it was the Merry Prankster. The year before it was the missing reindeer. And the year before that it was the Big Building with No Name. Remember that?

January is about a lot of predictions for some people. What do you predict for us?

Me? I’ll just predict one thing: Christmas will be a lot of fun this year. And we can’t wait for it.

— Elf Ernest

A heavy snowstorm has moved over the North Pole and it was a group of really slow moving elves who tramped their snowy feet into Santa’s office this morning. As is tradition Santa convened a meeting of Santa’s Council on the day after Christmas.

This select group of senior elves had one order of business for this traditional meeting: to set the time for Santa’s next launch of Operation Merry Christmas.

It is step #1 of a billion things that need to be done between now and when Santa launches again.

Once that time was decided upon — a process that took all of 30 seconds — Santa dismissed the meeting and declare today — indeed, all of this week — a holiday for all the elves at the North Pole. He did it as a thank you for their quality service this year.

Soon after this announcement was made a group of volunteer elves walked the grounds of the North Pole resetting the countdown clocks posted everywhere, including on all our websites.

How quickly it changes. Two days ago that countdown clock seemed to be moving at lightning speed. This morning — with those big numbers up there — it appears to be crawling.

It is hard to think of how far away it feels until Christmas is everywhere again. Here at the North Pole we live it every day and we love it.

But great things always begin small. And we think today’s small beginning to Operation Merry Christmas 2017 is a great start.

Merry Christmas!

— Elf Ernest

It has been a blessed Christmas day here at the North Pole. Believe it or not the North Pole Post Office has remained on the job but over the course of the last 36 hours or so the nature of mail has changed from wishlists to notes of gratitude and joy.

Santa is overwhelmed. He so appreciates your acknowledgement and spirit.

Hearts are merry even if bodies are tired here at the North Pole. It has been a blessed, snowy day as folks have celebrated with family, friends and loved ones.

It has been a fun season. Thanks for being here with us through it all. We hope the Spirit of Christmas strives within each of you daily and that you join us here often.

Merry Christmas!

— Elf Ernest