Cork kids explain how Santa flies and gets everybody their presents on time

How do Santa’s reindeer fly? And what does Mrs Claus do on Christmas Eve, while Santa’s flying around the world? These and other mysteries are kindly explained to Áilín Quinlan by the junior infants of Kilgarriffe National School in Clonakilty, Co Cork.

Why does Santa live in the North Pole?

There’s snow there. He likes snow, and it’s far away from children, and children are very noisy and bold. David Abbott (6) It’s too hot here! He likes cold weather because of Christmas. Mathilda Fitzpatrick (5) He doesn’t want kids to know what he’s making for them and he doesn’t want people to know how they make toys up there in the North Pole. Leah Buttimer (5) So people won’t come and try to steal all the toys. Sarah Buttimer (6) He just wants to be by himself, where it’s cold and where it’s Christmas and he likes seeing penguins and polar bears. Samantha Farnaste Folk (6) He wants to be far away from children so they won’t know his identity. Isaac McInerney (6)

How does Santa always seem to know who’s naughty and who’s nice?

Elves come and watch you every night. They use their eyes, and they go around your house and they tell Santa on you. I have an elf called Ginger. It’s a girl elf. She watches me. I saw her eating a bar of chocolate last night. It was all over her face. Sarah Buttimer (6) He watches you through the TV. Mathilda Fitzpatrick (5) The elves watch you. They hide in the freezer.

Isaac McInerney (6) He has cameras and he puts them into your house. Or maybe the reindeer put them into your house? Igor Galinksi (5) He puts invisible elves in your house and you don’t know where they are. They tell Santa everything! I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but not an elf. I just don’t. Leah Buttimer (5)

Did you ever catch Santa putting out your presents?

I saw him! We have cameras in our house, so we see everything. I saw Santa walking out of the chimney and putting out my presents. Samantha Farnaste Folk (6) I saw him when I was four. I stayed awake all night and I was sitting on the sofa looking at my comic when Santa came down the chimney.

He said “Ho Ho Ho David, what do you want for Christmas?” I told him the things I wanted. His reindeer were outside munching on the grass so I threw the carrot out the window. David Abbott (6) I never saw him but once he knocked over the coffee table so I knew he’d been in the house. Leah Buttimer ( 5)

What do you hope Santa will bring you for Christmas?

I asked for a Hatchimal and a Barbie House. I’ve been good. I wrote Santa a letter about it last week. Samantha Farnaste Folk (6) Lego, with Batman and Robin and Lego dogs and a remote control car. Igor Galinski (5) Pokemon and a remote control car and hotwheels. David Abbott (6) How come Mammies and Daddies never seem to see Santa Claus?

Because they were in the kitchen when he arrived. Igor Galinski (5) Because they’re asleep. They go to sleep before me because I see them - I always check because I want to go downstairs and find my presents. David Abbott (6) Because they might just be bold. Sarah Buttimer (5)

Why can Santa’s reindeer fly?

Santa Claus has a magic star that he puts on his sleigh so it goes faster. If he didn’t have the star, the sleigh and the reindeer would just go along the ground. Leah Buttimer (5) With Santa magic! He gets this magic dust and puts it on their legs and that’s what helps them fly. Isaac McInerney (6) The elves put magic powder on the reindeers’ backs. Rebecca Huggins (5)

How does Santa manage to fit all those presents on his sleigh and deliver them to children around the world?

He gets more and more sacks and squeezes them onto the sleigh. The reindeer are magic and they fly faster than a cheetah. David Abbott (6) Every year he just gets a bigger sleigh! Isaac McInerney (6) He pushes all the presents in very tight together. Mathilda Fitzpatrick (5)

How fast does Santa’s sleigh go?

Really, really fast! Samantha Farnaste Folk (6) As fast as my Dad’s car! Emma Daly (5) Twenty miles an hour. David Abbott (6) 100 million kilometres an hour. He goes as fast as an airplane or a rocket. Leah Buttimer (5) Eighty kilometres an hour. Igor Galinksi (5)

What does Mrs Claus do when she’s home all alone on Christmas Eve while Santa’s busily flying around the world on his sleigh?

She bakes cakes for Santa and some mince pies. Then she gives the elves surprises, like a week off tidying. Sarah Buttimer (6) She cleans up all the reindeer-poop. They live in the house. David Abbott (6) She makes Santa’s dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs and then mince pies. Isaac McInerney (6) She has a little sleep and a snack. Santa doesn’t know! Leah Buttimer (5)

What will Santa and his reindeer get to eat at your house this year?

We’ll leave a few carrots out for Rudolph and milk and cookies for Santa. Sometimes we put out a bar of chocolate for him too and if he doesn’t eat it, I eat it! Sarah Buttimer (6) Cookies and cake and nice hot chocolate. Carrots and milk for the reindeer. Mathilda Fitzpatrick (5) Santa told us what to leave out - four carrots for the reindeer. Four mince pies for Santa. A big chocolate cake and a glass of milk for him too. Leah Buttimer (5)

How do Santa and Mrs Claus spend Christmas Day?

Santa is in bed resting. Mrs Claus makes him cookies. Then she tells him he’s too fat to eat them so he gives them to the elves. Samantha Farnaste Folk (6) They all go to sleep when Santa comes home. When they wake up again, it’s Christmas Eve next year. Rebecca Huggins (5) Santa might have a little sleep after going around the world and when he wakes up he’ have a glass of milk and feed the reindeer. Mrs Claus will be cooking, like. Then they both do the tidying. Leah Buttimer (5)