Stupid questions about Santa and Christmas

[CuteOrangeElephant]

Yes I am aware some people call him Father Christmas.

Whatever you call him, I can't quite seem to be able to wrap my head around how it is experienced in the UK. What do you tell your children? My DD is 2 and I am unsure how to shape the Christmas myth for her.

I've not grown up with him, being from the continent and all, so I figured I should ask some questions here. I've not found my British DH to be particularly useful on this topic...

By the way, this is totally inspired by that topic on AIBU.

1. What does he bring? One present? Everything? Just the stocking?
2. If he brings a stocking, what is in it? How many items go in a stocking?
3. How does he deliver the presents? Does he go round in a sleigh climbing through chimneys? Is it the elves? Do they appear by magic?
4. What is this magic everyone seems to be talking about anyway? Can Santa do magic? Do the elves do magic?
5. Do all the presents get manufactured by his elves or does he buy them directly from toy manufacturers?
6. What happens in a grotto?
7. Is the Santa in the grotto the real Santa?
8. Where did Santa come from and how old is he?
9. Is it generally accepted that Mrs Claus exists or is that something from American movies?

10. How many elves are there? Are there any special elves? 11. Do the elves venture out of the North pole? Do they do anything else apart from on a shelf and manufacture toys? 12. What does Santa like to eat and drink? I've seen various things from milk to whiskey. Personally I wouldn't mind if he liked Bailey's hot chocolate. 13. How does he enough time to visit all the children in the world? Is it timetravel? Is it magic? Is it a combination? 14. Does he live in Lapland or the North pole? 15. Does he use technology or is he low tech? 16. Who delivers Christmas Eve boxes? Are they a generally accepted part of Christmas now and does everyone do them?

I'm sure more questions will pop up... Thanks for answering

FC brought stockings with up to 8 low price items.
In fact we didn't even say that.
We just put out stockings and everyone outside our family conspired to fill in the rest.

If you buy presents to pass to FC or send money it gets unnecessarily complicated. But otherwise how come poorer children get far less? That really isn't fair, they should get more if anything.

FC is far too busy to mess about with Christmas Eve boxes etc.
If

Christmas Eve box in our house contains

New PJs

New Christmas DVDs (Poundland ones)

Hot Chocolate

Marshmallows

Fluffy socks

The night before Christmas book (same book each year)

Christmas crafts (99p packs)

Gingerbread house to make and decorate

The box gets delivered in the morning yes mine are teens but they still want it every year same as the stockings from Father Christmas

In our house, we always bought presents and sent them to Santa, so he was just a delivery service. That way the dc could say thank you to great aunt Hilda for the present.

Also, Santa obviously can't be everywhere at once, so he has lots of Grandad helpers. That way if DC spot that Santa at the community centre is Alfie's grandad, it can easily be explained.

Father Christmas only brings a stocking full of small gifts for each DC, including socks, bath bomb, chocolate coins, satsuma, cereal bars and a carton of drink.

The elves get moved around the house randomly by who ever finds them

What a fun thread OP!

What does he bring?
In our house he fills a stocking and brings one additional "big present". The big present should be something from their lists.
Other presents are from the relatives who bought them.

If he brings a stocking, what is in it?
It should be enough things that the stocking looks nice and full and exciting. You can buy any size of stocking to suit your taste/budget.
Last year DD had: a collection of small shliech type toys, sunglasses, hair brush and bow, cheap bracelets and rings, sweets.
DS had walkie-talkie watch, Invisible ink pen, card game, some other "spy stuff" I can't remember now, sweets.

How does he deliver the presents?
He comes in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Traditionally he then arrives through the chimney. If you don't have a chimney you can make something else up.

What is this magic everyone seems to be talking about anyway? Can Santa do magic? Do the elves do magic?
Magic is your answer to any awkward questions about logistics. Its my understanding that Santa uses magic to increase the carrying capacity of the sleigh and to stretch the available time.

Do all the presents get manufactured by his elves or does he buy them directly from toy manufacturers?
Elves make them.

What happens in a grotto?
The children meet Santa and he asks them what they want for Christmas. After this point you can tell the kids that last minute updates to the list are off the table. They already told Santa what they wanted.

Is the Santa in the grotto the real Santa?
Mine believe it is!

Where did Santa come from and how old is he?
He's ancient. He comes from the North Pole.

Is it generally accepted that Mrs Claus exists or is that something from American movies?
I like to think he's got a special someone.

How many elves are there? Are there any special elves?
There's a factory full of elves. They have some special ones. Notably the shop steward and the Elf n' Safety rep. (sorry)

Do the elves venture out of the North pole? Do they do anything else apart from on a shelf and manufacture toys?
In our house- they just make the toys. They certainly don't venture into the house and move around various shelves. Not going there. Nope.

What does Santa like to eat and drink?
He likes whatever Christmassy thing you have to hand. I do a mince pie and a glass of sherry. The reindeer like a carrot.

How does he enough time to visit all the children in the world?
Its magic. NASA have a cute app where you can track him across the world.

Does he live in Lapland or the North pole?
North Pole

Does he use technology or is he low tech?
I imagine his factory is equipped with all the modern machinery needed for moulded plastic toys.

Who delivers Christmas Eve boxes? Are they a generally accepted part of Christmas now and does everyone do them?
Christmas Eve boxes are optional. I don't think anyone supernatural needs to bring them.

Also, I would teach your children right from the beginning that their list for Father Christmas is. Wish List, not a shopping list! Right from the beginning make sure they don’t get every single thing they ask for, and always give them one or two things they didn’t ask for.

www.noradsanta.org

Santa can be low or hi tech, but you can track him here. My little one is highly suspicious and wants all the answers so I tend to answer with, hmm, not sure, maybe xyz, what do you think? - makes things a bit easier.

Oh yes, forgot to mention an important thing - FC wouldn’t bring the Christmas Eve box in my household - that would be our family tradition, and the box would just make it a little more special.

I wouldn’t do elf on the shelf. Too much work and hassle, stress and pressure.

The linked tracker above is the NORAD tracker I mentioned, I love it! Even as an adult pre-children I used to follow FC on it . It also has the history of NORAD etc which is quite nice to read with older DC.

Tip- if you’re going to leave the stocking at the end of the bed buy 2 and pre-fill one then just swap on the night. I didn’t think of this for several years!

I love reading all the differences on here. My advice would be take the basics but then make Christmas your own. Make it something you'll look forward to and enjoy doing with the kids or else December will be a long month!

In our house Santa brings the stockings, one main thing they really wanted and a few surprises. We give the rest.

We have an Elf which I was very skeptical of at the start. But the kids bloody love him so he's here to stay. He shows up not long after the tree goes up on the 12th (which is when we remember to fish him out of the attic). Although the kids believe this is because he only comes when he knows we're celebrating Christmas. He stays until Christmas Eve. He arrives with a letter saying hi to them both and asking if he can stay and celebrate with us. He doesn't do anything amazing. Last year I think he built a Lego tower, got trapped under a glass, drew some pictures etc. It takes about 5 minutes before bed but they are so delighted with it and it all seems worth it somehow.

In our house the elf brings the Christmas Eve boxes as a thank you for them being such good hosts! They are waiting for them when they wake up on Christmas Eve and usually contains some PJs (not Christmas ones), hot chocolate, a book or sticker book, a DVD and a small TY plush.

I really enjoy crafts so I spend a few evenings in December making the boxes out of empty crates and painting them to make them seem seasonal. It's become part of my Christmas build up and really gets me in the Christmas spirit.

And remember, kids are very flexible and forgiving when presents are involved!

1. What does he bring? One present? Everything? Just the stocking?

Just the stocking.

1. If he brings a stocking, what is in it? How many items go in a stocking?

Cram it full 😂

1. How does he deliver the presents? Does he go round in a sleigh climbing through chimneys? Is it the elves? Do they appear by magic?

Sleigh. Down chimneys.

1. What is this magic everyone seems to be talking about anyway? Can Santa do magic? Do the elves do magic?

He can stop time so do everywhere in one night. He can get into buildings without chimneys.

1. Do all the presents get manufactured by his elves or does he buy them directly from toy manufacturers?

Elves

1. What happens in a grotto?

Don’t go to them.

1. Is the Santa in the grotto the real Santa?

For us we would say no for older children, simply people enjoying the spirit of the celebration.

1. Where did Santa come from and how old is he?

Nobody knows.

1. Is it generally accepted that Mrs Claus exists or is that something from American movies?

American. Irrelevant to the tradition, he could have 100 wives and 100 children.

10. How many elves are there? Are there any special elves?

As many elves as are needed.
No special ones - equality is big in our house 😆

11. Do the elves venture out of the North pole? Do they do anything else apart from on a shelf and manufacture toys?

No. And on the shelf is not part of the old tradition and many don’t do it.

12. What does Santa like to eat and drink? I've seen various things from milk to whiskey. Personally I wouldn't mind if he liked Bailey's hot chocolate.
    Any food and drink that you can provide is a gift Father Christmas will appreciate, it’s a token of the child’s appreciation.

13. How does he enough time to visit all the children in the world? Is it timetravel? Is it magic? Is it a combination?

We don’t have to know the intricacies! Why would we?

14. Does he live in Lapland or the North pole?

North Pole

15. Does he use technology or is he low tech?

Tech is unnecessary for his job.

16. Who delivers Christmas Eve boxes? Are they a generally accepted part of Christmas now and does everyone do them?

We don’t do them!!

I didn’t have time to reply properly earlier.
Regardless of what intentions you start out with, Christmas traditions tend to evolve depending on what they’ve seen on tv, what is said in school, and what questions they think up to ask.

In our house this is how it goes...

1. What does he bring? One present? Everything? Just the stocking?
A stocking, a main gift (what they ask for) and a few extras that I choose that I know they will get quality play from.
2. If he brings a stocking, what is in it? How many items go in a stocking?
We have special stockings that are a bit big so I pad them out with a comic and t shirt/dress to fill them up. There is always an orange in the toe and a handful of chocolate coins and since starting school there is new stationery. Then something like a lego blind bag and a packet of sweets. There used to be a soft toy peeking adorably out of the top holding a candy cane. This was a stupid precedent to set!
3. How does he deliver the presents? Does he go round in a sleigh climbing through chimneys? Is it the elves? Do they appear by magic?
He arrives by sleigh and comes down the chimney (by magic). We know this because he leaves grubby hand prints around the fireplace, knocks coal onto the carpet and staggers into furniture knocking it over. He’s also a messy eater.
The reindeer are also clumsy and knock over potted plants and sometimes leave hoof prints on the patio.
4. What is this magic everyone seems to be talking about anyway? Can Santa do magic? Do the elves do magic?
Coming down chimneys is magic, and traveling around the world in a single night is magic. The magic is generated by moments of kindness so we have to be extra considerate around Christmas to make sure there’s enough. The magic is also called the Christmas spirit

5. Do all the presents get manufactured by his elves or does he buy them directly from toy manufacturers? My theory is that the operation is financed by selling North Pole manufactured toys to retailers. It is probable that elves are employed by the lego factory in some sort of advisory capacity.
6. What happens in a grotto?
Depends where you go. We’ve paid a fortune for an “experience” where the dc helped Mrs Claus pack Santa’s suitcase, we went down a slide into Santa’s workshop and found our names on the good list and elves working on the gift ds was getting (a wooden train set), and then sat in a living room to wait for Santa who arrived down the chimney. It was great, but we’ve also done more paired back visits in a local shopping center with a very simple but incredibly realistic Santa.
It’s worth noting that the elves in grottos will often slip a note to Santa who will mention something specific to your child which can add to the experience.
7. Is the Santa in the grotto the real Santa It’s usually a helper but sometimes you meet the real Santa.
8. Where did Santa come from and how old is he? He came from the generousity and kindness of St Nicholas and lives on. As long as there are people who give selflessly and secretly with no thought of thanks or reward (beyond the joy of giving) then Santa lives on.
9. Is it generally accepted that Mrs Claus exists or is that something from American movies?
We met her at a grotto so she exists. She hadn’t featured in our narrative before that.
10. How many elves are there? Are there any special elves?
Lots
11. Do the elves venture out of the North pole? Do they do anything else apart from on a shelf and manufacture toys?
Until a few years ago they were confined to the North Pole. Recently there have been rumors of them in other people’s houses. I assumed they were leprechaun like creatures, about half the size of a normal human. However the ones in grottos are human sized and the ones on shelves are toy sized. I’m completely confused.

Robins, however, are Santa’s messengers. I often spotted one flying away to the south right after the dc were being particularly kind or thoughtful. They usually weren’t quick enough to see what I was pointing excitedly at. Fortunately there never seemed to be one around during the squabbles.
12. What does Santa like to eat and drink? milk, cookies and mince pies. He has been known to pilfer a glass of whiskey.
13. How does he enough time to visit all the children in the world? Is it timetravel? Is it magic? Is it a combination? very strong magic generated from kindness.
14. Does he live in Lapland or the North pole? both. Geography wasn’t a strong point.
15. Does he use technology or is he low tech? ours was low tech. We posted Christmas letters up the chimney and tried to run out to the garden fast enough to see them fly up out of the chimney on the polar wind. Sometimes we could just about make out a trail of sparkles, we think.
16. Who delivers Christmas Eve boxes? Are they a generally accepted part of Christmas now and does everyone do them? we have a box of stuff for Christmas Eve, like new pjs, a candle to light and put in the window, the nativity story book, Santa’s special plate. It also has table cloths and decorations for the Christmas table, the crackers etc. so just a storage box, not a magically delivered box.

It really does vary greatly from one family to another. I think it’s important to start off low key, doing only the parts that matter to you and then respond to your dc as they grow into it. The general conception has changed in the short period where my dc believed.

We didn’t watch movies (although they saw some in school) because they introduce a lot of doubt. It also helped avoid confusion between the different types of Santa/elves/ etc. we were influenced by Peppa Pig and Barney. I think we started wrapping because of Barney’s visit to the wrapping room!

There’s no right way, though everyone will passionately believe their way is right! I’d be willing to bet that your dh will be stirred to object strenuously to some innocuous detail at some point!! The important think is not to bankrupt yourself financially or psychologically and have fun with it.

Santa in the grotto I think I have a good way of managing this! I tell ds that Santa has representatives whom he sends to gather information and these are the grotto santas. But what he does is drop in unexpectedly. What's really amazing is that when WE visit the grotto it's ALWAYS when the real Santa has dropped in! Incredible right?

I don't know where the idea came from that Father Christmas likes 'milk and cookies'. OK, he has to put up with these (abominations) when visiting American homes, but in the U.K. he expects a mince pie and a generous tot of whisky or brandy, or sherry at a pinch, if you've got some in for Granny.

It's cold out there, FFS - he needs something to warm him up a bit! Who on earth wants a glass of cold milk when it's bloody freezing and you've still got a long way to go in an open-topped vehicle?

In our house, he brings a stocking of small presents - usually something like a book, socks, colouring pens, one small toy, chocolate, sweets, gingerbread man, satsuma.

I don't know how he gets into the house, where he lives, what he looks like, what elves are like, whether he is married, how he gets round the whole world, but of course some stories say he wears red, has reindeer etc. I don't know if those stories are true.

I do know that if you leave a stocking on your bed on Christmas Eve, it will be full in the morning, because that's what I did as a child.
It must be magic.

I've never seen him, but my great aunt once thought she heard reindeer hooves on the roof.

I don't know whether anybody has ever seen him - I think the ones in grottoes are people dressed up, but I don't actually know that.

Basically, it's all a bit of a mystery and I don't know any more than the kids!

In our family we send the money to Santa who basically delivers the gifts. However stockings are a surprise for us all (only kids get them though) as they are from him. In reality I pick up unusual sweets or small toys or stationery they'd like throughout the year. It also includes pants, socks, some sort of toiletry items, a new toothbrush and a book.

Santa is magic because you can answer any questions with "dunno it's magic." They all know that department store Santas are his helpers. This was partly driven by necessity as my DD2 pointed out aged 3 "he definitely isn't the real one because he has trainers on" - 5 year old DD1 chimed in "they wouldn't say 'a up my duck' in the North Pole"

Watch Arthur Christmas - it will help provide answers to modern day Santa questions

Don't forget the phone app that tells you about Santa's journey to you

Watch Arthur Christmas - it will help provide answers to modern day Santa questions
I prefer "Santa Claus-The Movie".

Sueelleker with Dudley Moore? That's a lovely movie - we went to see it in the cinema with DF and it's the first movie I think we went to in the cinema!!! I can still remember the bolts wobbling around the tricycle wheel (rather than going through it) when his machine started to get overloaded.

I think you overthink it a lot.

We are Germans and while we do Christmas on the 24th it is Father Christmas/Christkind who comes and then Santa comes overnight and leaves a stocking behind.

So it is a total mix of whatever you think suitable, mixed with your own memories and what you think your child may like doing.

We always split presents, DD does a smallish list and we do presents we think she may like/need/are practical. If it is something we need to control it FC sends a letter like the year she asked for a tablet, he doesn't do technology and parents know better what DD can have/do or not.

Her stocking are small presents, not specifically bought, just whatever is small to fit in. Things like bath stuff, book, cd, DVD, purse, maybe a T-shirt.

Elves are not part of our traditions and I think Lapland and North Pole are kind of the same for DD.

She never thought about how FC comes on the 24th but Santa def comes with the reindeers. She leaves food and drink at the fireplace before she goes to bed. She is quite polite and always asks for his wishes in her letter so she gets an answer back after some days. We do a mix of beer (DH), wine (me), Port (DH and me), marzipan or chocolate (no one likes mince pies that much). Oh, and Rudolf hates carrots in our house, he gets an apple.

Grotto - when we started going DD was already 5 and knew that the guy in the red coat wasn't the real one but the story was that he was a helper and would report back.

She is now 12, doesn't believe since she is 10 and still we do all the things as it is part of our tradtions. No letter, no presents. She loves the fact that for a couple of weeks magic is back.

I grew up getting a sack of presents from Santa so that’s what I’m going to do for my DC’s. I’ve also got a Christmas Eve box and we’re going to put the Santa key, Santa plate, reindeer food, popcorn, hot chocolate, a film and The Night Before Christmas book in it!
I’m also going to be leaving a drink drink for Santa - the poor lad deserves a beer at least for all his hard work!
I’ve tracked Santa on Christmas Eve even before I had kids!!! I can’t wait 😊

In our house it is Santa. Who delivers all the presents (from us). Relatives give theirs themselves. He also fills a stocking which is normally socks, toothbrush, kinder egg and a tube pringles. Santa has a budget per child as he has so many to get for. They only make wooden toys in north pole. We leave out a glass bottle diet coke, biscuits and carrots for reindeer. Mrs claus does exist tho dont really mention her or elves lol. And the grottos are not real. Santas helpers.