At the end of October, we featured Top 12 Questions and Answers in our regular blog posts. Just for our Newsletter subscribers, here’s the expanded article with some even more thoughtful questions you may want to prepare in your own manner for answering.
Top 25 Q&A to Prepare for Your Season
The Question and Answer Exercise: Bonus Size for Newsletter Subscribers
In our last post, we presented 12 common questions or discussion topics that might come to any Santa, Mrs. Claus, or Elf. We suggested that you jot down various answers or further questions these made you consider. We also suggested that you try answering them in character with a partner, being careful to answer in Character, and try to be as sincere and considerate as possible.
Your thoughtful responses will mean a lot to your audiences. Go for the best short and concise answer that you can use. Look for these discussions to cue you for additional stories, songs, or props that you can reference.
Always be respectful and never glib or flip, no matter how old your audience. When possible, praise the person by name and make certain you engage them with good eye contact. “Why that’s an excellent question, Susie!” You can also always ask them what they think, and you can get some real insight that way.
25 Common Questions and Answers (Bonus List)
- Are you really Santa Claus / Mrs. Claus / an Elf?
Your answer will vary, since often this question could be followed up with “Prove it!” from the person asking. I usually poke myself and say, “I feel real. You look real. Maybe I’m really here! What do you think?” - Am I on the Naughty or Nice List?
With children, we always say “the Nice List” but often include small hedges like, “we could use some work on…” and name something the parents may have suggested—like improved homework or cleaning their room or not fighting with a sibling. - What is your / their favorite cookie?
Often we ask, “What kind of cookies do YOU like?” or the standard, “The kind of cookies you make!” - Where are the reindeer? Can I see them?
My go-to answer is usually, “The reindeer are very shy, so they are waiting for me in a park nearby.” - How do the reindeer fly? How many do you have?
My reindeer have magical reindeer feed. And at last count, I have 1,172 reindeer in my herd. - What do reindeer like to eat? Do they like cookies or carrots? Who is your favorite reindeer?
This is a great lead-in to discuss how amazing reindeer are, and to use a very Dad-joke line, “Takin’ a Likin’ to some Lichen!” I also love all my reindeer, but perhaps my favorite is Zephyr who is very old and the first one who learned to fly. - Does Mrs. Claus or the Elves have their own Reindeer/Sleigh?
We have many sleighs at the North Pole. The small ones are called Zoomers. And Mrs. Claus has her own, pulled by Bouncer and Breeze. - Why does Rudolph’s nose glow?
It’s a very handy mutation, isn’t it? Rudolph absorbs magic and his special ability is that amazing nose. All my main reindeer have special abilities. - How do you deliver all those presents in one night?
Another question that could require careful answers. I typically say that I have a time-splicer. I hit the button and time speeds up for me but slows down for you. A bit of that “timey, wimey, wibbly, wobby,” if you know what I mean. Then I show them my time-splicer prop. - Do you know ________, my Elf on the Shelf?
There are so many Elves on the Shelves! Let’s see, Harvey Pickle-Nose? Oshbuck Trimbletoo? - How do you get down the chimney / get in if there is not a chimney?
This is when I use my Magic Key. There are some amazing ones available from Toys for Santa. This also an opportunity for me to use the “D-Lite” magic trick, to collect power for my Magic Key. - Will you be able to find me if I moved / am visiting Grandma, etc.?
Mrs. Claus is very good with her Magic Telescope, and she works with a team of fairies and elves, to give me the latest information. Plus, you could also send us a note if you’re concerned!
Just a side note: Probably the biggest challenge is when someone asks us to actually show them some magic. My standard response is “I’ll be honest, I have to deliver to 233 million homes. So I try use as little magic as possible until the big night. I want to make sure that you and everybody else gets their presents! Is that okay? And speaking of presents, did you want something special?” - Can I come to the North Pole/ be an Elf?
I’m very careful with this one. I might say, “I think you’re already a bit elvish! Try to be good and very helpful. Maybe someone from the North Pole Team could contact you later. - Who is your Head Elf?
I can use “Bernard” in reference to the Santa Clause movies. Or in the case of Santa True, I like to name an Elf called “Ilmarinnen.” - Do you have Fairies (and other magical creatures) at the North Pole?
In my backstory, there are lots of different magical creatures in Claus Valley. Some kids ask to see one of them, so I’m careful with this discussion.
- I saw you X, and you looked different. Do you remember?
I’ve been around a very long time and everywhere I go, the magic changes me. You look different from the last time I saw you, too! - Did you get my letter?
I believe I did get it! You wanted a yak, right? - How do you fit all the presents in the sleigh/bag?
For me, it’s a combination of technology and magic. My Sleigh-Mark-42 is bigger on the inside. The Big Bag has more than one opening. The elves made it for me with a tesseract, a mobius strip, a klein bottle, and the hair from Schrodinger’s Cat. I don’t really understand how. - How old are you? How long have you been Santa / Mrs. Claus / an Elf?
I’m 1,748 years old this year, give or take. And I’ve been giving gifts for a very long time! - Why didn’t you bring me what I wanted last year?
My apologies, I do my best. You wanted a live elephant, right? They are very hard to load in my sleigh. Maybe I can do better this year? - So and So is Naughty! Will you give them just coal / no presents at all?
Well Mrs. Claus is in charge of my Naughty or Nice List. I will check in with her. Perhaps we talk about how you’re doing? - Can you get me a (super expensive item) cell-phone / video game console / iPad?
I never promise. I do have 233 million homes to go to, and so I do my very best. If I cannot get you exactly that one thing, I will try to surprise you with something you’ll really like! - Can you bring me a puppy / pony / snake…?
Hmmm, live animals—you know that I make toys, right? Not animals? I would have to talk to Mother Nature and your parents first. And it’s a great idea to adopt from the local animal shelter, so that puppy has a great Christmas, too. - I don’t want anything for Christmas / don’t know what I want.
That’s okay, I want you to know I appreciate that, too. If I think of something you’d like, can I leave you a surprise? - (Challenge Round) Can you…?
These are opportunities to listen compassionately and offer something simple about your companionship. “That’s very tough, and even Santa has limits on what he can do. I know you’ve asked this out of love. Sometimes all Santa can do is to offer to pray for you, too. So I will. And I can offer you a hug right now. Would you like a hug? (Honor their answer.) Is there anything else you might want for Christmas?- Bring back a dead loved one?
Santa has been around a long time, and I know that the people we love and who love us never stop caring for us. - Heal the sick/get my sister a kidney?
Usually an offer for prayer. - Stop my parents from getting a divorce?
Assure them that no matter what happens, they are loved and it’s not their fault. - Bring a parent from prison?
Usually an offer for prayer. - Bring a parent back from military deployment?
Usually an offer for prayer and safety. - Help us find a home?
Usually an offer for prayer. - Give us a million dollars?
The government doesn’t like it when Santa makes money, so I can only offer Monopoly or play money. Is there anything else you might like? - Stop X from hurting me?
Please be careful on this one. Make sure you have another staff adult listening, if you can. If it sounds like there is actually abuse occurring, send the child to a Mandated Reporter, such as a Teacher or Law Enforcement.
- Bring back a dead loved one?