Taking a month off before the big night has been one of Santa’s many holiday traditions for years.
As the elves put in long hours constructing and assembling the thousands of toys for the Christmas season, Santa Claus says it is important for him to spend time away from the North Pole in order to be relaxed for his world tour on Christmas Eve.
This year Santa decided to bless Chenango County with his presence, saying he thinks the people here needed some extra Christmas spirit, following the weather conditions that may have dampened the holiday season.
While here resting, Santa got to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the county.
“I got to taste the treats, see the sights and meet the kind people I have heard so much about,” Santa said.
Along his way, he has gotten to play basketball, which he says is his favorite sport, go to local candy shops and bakeries and stop in to see the many merchants around the county.
Santa says the Chenango people have been kind and generous, and he has seen how residents have pitched in to make the holidays special for everyone in the county. Santa has brought along his gift list and says he wants everyone to know that up until midnight on Dec. 24, people can be added to his good list. “It is never too late to lend a helping hand or to do a good deed,” Claus said.
Throughout the month, Santa has been able to meet many of the children residing here and says they have all been good this year. He has some special treats for all of them.
Santa explained traveling here was a little difficult, but nothing was going to stop him from spending his month off in Chenango County.
“My sleigh broke down before I left, and one of my head elves had to lend me his Geo Prism to ensure safe traveling,” Santa said. “Getting here was nice though. Canada was beautiful.”
There were only a few setbacks for Santa as he tried to relax and gain strength for his big trip, including when there was an emergency at home, and he got a phone call when he was driving.
“I didn’t know the law in New York about cell phones while driving, and when the call came from Philly, my smallest elf, explaining he couldn’t find Vixen, I panicked and had to take the call,” Santa said. He says the officer who pulled him over was understanding of the situation.
Following his cell phone emergency, Santa found himself in front of Judge Sullivan, because people thought him to be a Claus impostor. The matter was resolved quickly when District Attorney Joseph McBride gave Santa’s beard a hard tug and realized this Santa was the real deal.
Santa says some chocolates from a downtown merchant made him feel better. He says from what he has seen, he is happy to know the residents here will have a safe holiday.
“Everyone here seems to be on their toes,” he said. “The only other matter needing attention is the amount of grocery carts scattered on the local streets. I will do my best to take them all back, but when I’m gone, others are going to have to do it themselves.”
Now that Santa has explored the sights and eaten the treats, he says he is going to have to venture back home and get prepared for his bigger journey. He says he is rested, and he enjoyed his stay here. He also says he can’t wait to try the delicious treats set out year after year for him, and for all the kids out there, he wanted to let them know his favorite drink besides milk with his cookies is Ginger Ale.
As he drove away, Santa looked back and said, “take time to enjoy family and friends and be thankful for all you have and that you live in such a wonderful place.”