Christmas is very nearly here, and I’d like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and All the Best in the New Year. As you can see from this photo of my Christmas tree, I’m all ready for Santa to visit. I anticipate one very nicely wrapped medium sized gift of the hair drying appliance variety!
For better or for worse, Christmas is a time for gifts and giving. Who knows that better than Santa – and Wal-Mart, Costco and Tesco, to name just a few of the larger retailers!
While it is easy to walk into the familiar brick and mortar stores in communities around the world, it is quite impossible to visit Santa’s establishment. There are several reasons for this. First, of course, is the fact that Santa is not a retailer. He is the owner of a factory and distribution outlet. His business model simply does not include on-site sales.
Then there is the issue of the location of his facility. It is, according to lore, at the North Pole – a place that isn’t even located on a land mass. It is nearly in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, and is almost permanently covered with constantly shifting sea ice. So, even if you could get to the North Pole, you might find Santa’s factory at the designated GPS location or it might be miles (kilometers) away in an undetermined direction.
The North Pole, in the winter, is a very cold place. Winter temperatures can range from about −50 to −13 °C (−58 to 9 °F). It is quite inhospitable. Despite that, several countries have laid claims to these icy high seas (Canada, Norway, Russia and Denmark.) It could be decades before their claims are scrutinized by the United Nations and one of them is declared the owner. When that happens, Santa, Mrs. Claus and all the elves will have to apply for citizenship, I suppose. The paperwork will be monumental…
While you may not be able to visit Santa at his home, you can certainly mail him a letter. Canada has assigned the North Pole a Postal Code, so letters to Santa can be mailed to North Pole, H0H 0H0. Finland says Santa’s official office is in their country and his address is Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Arctic Circle. There is place called the North Pole in Alaska, USA. Letters to that Santa can be mailed to North Pole Postmark Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998. In the UK, Santa’s letters go to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. In Australia, letters may be mailed to Santa, NORTH POLE 9999. Santa has other addresses in other countries and these can be found at a site called Letters to Santa.
I’ll end this post with a burning question – should the North Pole become part of any country at all? By extension, should Santa have to become a citizen of any country, and if yes, which country do you think it should be?
This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is Anticipation.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! (Oh, and Santa should definitely be a resident of the WORLD in general!)
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All the best in the New Year to you and your family, Dianna!
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I vote for the North Pole remaining as it is, a frozen non-country inhabited by polar bears and scientists!
As for Santa, I work with a man named Nicholas Claus and I have reason to believe he’s the real deal. Wrote a post about it, in fact. So perhaps his mail should be directed to Arizona?! 😉
Merry Christmas!
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I read your post – what fun to have the Claus family so nearby!
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Thanks – they really are a sweet couple. On the last day before break, he wore a sweatshirt that looked like Santa’s suit. I told him I admired how fully he embraced his name, and he said a bit sheepishly, “Well, it’s really more her.” But he admitted he has more fun with it now that he’s older. 🙂
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I think Santa should be a citizen of Liechtenstein. They never get any press.
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Wow, it is a very small country! I can see why it doesn’t get much press. It doesn’t have a military – I think Santa might like that.
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Santa lives everywhere, a citizen of the world.
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So you like the fact he lives in the hearts of everyone. Good sentiment.
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Your tree is amazing! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
I wish you a Very Safe and Happy 2017 with oodles of success!
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Thanks E.C. – it was a very wonderful Christmas – best ever. Fortunately, I say that every year!
All the best to you and yours in 2017!
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blessings and grace in the new year all year
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Thank you – all the best to you too!
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Your tree is beautiful! And my vote is for Santa to remain a citizen of the world. He kind of belongs to everyone …. just with different languages and perhaps a little different “take” on how and when he does his job.
Hope your new year has started out wonderful.
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Thank you, chickengrandma. The new year is off to a good start – 6 day vacation in a warm place with lots of family members!
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Sounds like a great start!
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Santa lives in our hearts and imagination. Why should he have to settle on a physical location? Wishing you a very happy new year. xxoo Ruth in Pittsburgh
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Hope you have a great year, and that the joy of Christmas bubbles up all year long!
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Thank you so much.
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