In the distant reaches of the North Pole, a lone elf stands above the flight tower to ensure the weather conditions are optimal for Santa Claus’ annual Christmas Eve trip. With temperatures reaching an average of −40° C, everything must line up just right for the successful takeoff of ‘ole Saint Nick’s merry sled.

All nine of Santa’s reindeer rest at a nearby shed, getting ready for the long journey ahead. In charge of lighting their path, Rudolph’s bright red nose receives a last-minute shine to make sure it’s at its brightest. Each one of the reindeer is fed with sacks of magical cookies prepared by Mrs. Claus herself, giving them a proper fix of whimsy to power up their flight. 

Meanwhile, just a short walk away from the reindeer shed, the famed Santa’s workshop files in all the last-minute letters and emails coming in from all parts of the world. Bernard Elf, Santa’s chief elf, oversees the final flow of those on the naughty and nice lists. “It can be a hectic time, sometimes there’s a nice kid who does something at the last minute that lands him on the naughty list. We need to redirect the original gift over to those who redeemed themselves,” shares Bernard. 

Past the post office’s halls, a doorway leads straight to where all the magic happens—Santa’s workshop. Here, all the finest of elf artisans quickly craft all the requests of children. Their crafts range from doll houses, wooden horses, nutcrackers, and just about every classical toy you could think of made from the finest of oaks. Nowadays though, most kids tend to ask for electronics. To cater to this, an entirely different division of elves works on all the latest gadgets. One of them, Gizmo, recalls one of their hardest years on the job. “Our worst years are when a new video game console drops. It was pandemonium when the PlayStation 5 came out! We had to work months past the holidays to get them all released.”

Finally, overlooking the entire operation from his office above, Santa Claus prepares for what could be his largest trip yet. As part of a special treat, he had us come over to share how he gets ready for the annual event.

Walking us over to where his sled was parked, Santa took pride in his modern rig. “I got this sled upgraded a while back, now it runs completely on hot cocoa. This is in line with our sustainability goals.” Upon being asked about the North Pole’s coal production for the naughty children, however, the jolly old man refused to comment. 

“To travel around the world in one night is only made possible thanks to some Yuletide magic,” enthuses Santa. “There’s a lot going on here that science, in its current form, cannot explain. But to put it simply, it’s like I’m using dimensional rifts to be everywhere all at once.” 

Finally, as part of the big highlight of the night, Santa Claus puts on his gear and loads up his sack of presents on the sled. He gives his final message before taking off. “It’s a special time, having to give out gifts to billions of children worldwide,” shares Santa. “My only wish each year is for people to come together and cherish the joys brought by the holiday season.” 

After all, it’s a little-known fact that the reason Santa’s operation continues to run is due to the imagination and joy of children all over. 

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” roars Santa. That’s a signal for the reindeer start running, taking off as Santa’s jolly laugh fills the air, marking the joyful start of Christmas Eve.