I’ve already received thousands of letters from children all over the world, and I haven’t even sat down with Mrs. Claus for Thanksgiving yet! I have my little helpers doing all they can to sort through all of your wishes this year, but with the winter holiday season starting earlier and earlier every year, I’m afraid I may not be getting everyone’s letters.

So here is a sure-fire way to make certain I receive them:

I’ve been reading the Courier-Herald ever since it started in 2003 – every week I send a few of my helpers down to pick up some papers for me and the reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen are huge Panther fans, and Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen are Spartan fanatics. You wouldn’t believe how rowdy it gets up here when the Sunset Bowl comes around. “When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,” indeed.)

I’ve installed an express mailbox at the Courier Herald office in Enumclaw, specifically for letters addressed to me. If you drop off or mail your letters to the Courier Herald, they will get printed in the newspaper and I’ll read them while drinking my morning hot chocolate.

Parents, ’tis the season for grand holiday meals and delicious desserts. Mrs. Claus and I have been looking for ways to spice up our holiday treats this year (an elf can’t live off of candy canes and sugar cookies alone you know) so if you have a special dinner or dessert recipe you’d like us to try, drop it off or mail it to the Courier Herald, and it’ll get printed in the paper too!

And children, remember to leave something out for me by the tree. It’s a long and cold night, and those cookies and milk help me stay jolly. If you need an idea for what to bake, ask your parents – they know what I like!

Happy holidays to all, and to all a good night!

– St. Nicholas,

North Pole