350 Days Until Santa’s Launch

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The countdown to Santa’s launch now shows that 350 days remain until that big event.

You would not know that is looking at the North Pole right now.

Santa’s workshop is dark and locked up. There is minimal staffing at North Pole Flight Command. The reindeer are lounging at Santa’s Stables and elves are busy with their own families in their own homes right now.

As is tradition, Santa declared a “mandatory” work break, which began on his return to the North Pole on Christmas morning.

Since then the North Pole has celebrated New Year’s, gathering only for a brief ceremony at Flight Command to reset the countdown clock.

Milestones in the countdown come through out the year. The 350-day marker today may, in fact, be the quietest.

As of this date no work on Santa’s new campaign has been done. No lists have been made. No goals have been set. There has been no talk of a new sleigh design, toy production quotas, tracking Santa or stuffing stockings.

That work begins next Monday, January 9th, when Santa and the elves all return to work.

Since Christmas life at the North Pole has been on holiday.

The North Pole celebrates Christmas late – only after the entire world has had their turn.

When Santa returns there are parties, concerts, sledding events and other seasonal celebrations that make up the elf Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Claus make the rounds, enjoying the company of those who help make the world a merry place at Christmas.

During this period of time Santa refuses to talk to the media and even this little bit of news has to have his approval before we publish it. Santa makes sure we ALL get some down time right after Christmas before we begin again.

So, while this officially marks our first published news of the New Year we still have a day or two of rest and relaxation before we begin again next week.

What can you expect in the weeks and months ahead?

More news and expanded coverage of the North Pole and its efforts. Every year is a new story. Every week is another update in the countdown to Santa’s launch.

There will be chats, podcasts and interviews with important elves. We will, once again, tell the story of Santa and the North Pole.

 

Nothing to Do

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Hey. Joel here. Remember me? Yeah, that guy who wrote ONE post like months ago and then disappeared?

I’m back.

Back at the North Pole. Back from life on the road with Santa. Back to a winter wonderland with nothing to do.

I have not been at the North Pole during Christmas time for many years. Well, I was a little more during the pandemic but that was because Santa was held against his will. He was grounded and so was I. Boy, that was a slow time.

Every November, right after Halloween, Santa hits the road and I go with him. He’s done it forever. He just loves visiting with the children and hearing their Christmas wishes. That’s what he does.

That’s not what I do.

I already told you all about it, so I won’t tell you my part in it all again other than to say unlike other elves at the North Pole I’m not at the North Pole when it is Christmas. Right up until Santa returns to hop in the sleigh I’m gone. Then he dumps me like yesterday’s lunch.

It’s usually just a few hours to Christmas Eve on December 23rd when I get back and other than getting a decent chug of eggnog there’s nothing for me to do when I get back.

Like everyone else – like you – I track Santa first thing when he takes off.

But, unlike you, I have no clue what’s going on. And, unlike you, I have no elf supervisor here at the North Pole to guide me.

Think about that. Every sector has an elf supervisor – and a news page – on this website. But North Pole trackers like me don’t have a sector. The North Pole is not in a sector. It’s just the North Pole.

Oh, we have Flight Command but those elves are useless to us. They are too busy telling the world when to get to bed and keeping up with that map. They don’t have time to tell trackers like me at the North Pole what they need.

And what would North Pole Flight Command need of just a regular tracker elf like me who lives at the North Pole?

So, really, once Santa drops me off I have literally nothing to do. And since that time I’ve been busy as heck doing nothing.  And that nothing continues well into the New Year.

Now, you’d think a calendar guy like me would like New Years. And I do, don’t get me wrong. It’s good to be home after traveling with Santa for two months. But it’s a new year. That means a new calendar, right? Big time for calendar elves, huh?

Actually, I detest January. January is the reason why I work in pencil.

You see, in January, everyone thinks Santa has a blank calendar. Well, he does but for whatever reason they seem to think January means they can put whatever they WANT on Santa’s calendar.

They can’t.

It doesn’t work that way.

Well, it does for Mrs. Claus. She calls me up – usually the first week of January – and she puts just two events on Santa’s calendar.

The first is their trip for Thanksgiving in October with the Canada family Mrs. Claus has. That is their tradition and they go every year. I can practically write that one in ink. I don’t, of course, cause he’s Santa. He’s definitely a guy who has to keep things written in pencil, especially on his calendar.

The second event is their anniversary.

Actually, Mrs. Claus doesn’t have to tell me it because I know it. I put it on the calendar before she ever calls. But Santa can never remember it and I put it down so I can remind him. That’s another inker, by the way. Santa does not miss his anniversary. That’s my job, you know. To remind Santa of what’s on his calendar.

Anyway, in my office – which is really just a cubicle outside of Santa’s office (how much of a desk does a calendar guy need?) – I sit at my desk during these dog days of January doing nothing. Well, I do take phone calls – which are all worthless and a waste of time, by the way.

Everyone calling is important. At least that’s what they tell me. And they want Santa’s time. They want me to put time slots down on Santa’s calendar for him to meet with them.

But it doesn’t work that way.

I tell them this. All-the-time. But they never listen, and that’s because I’m a second class elf. I’m just Joel at the Pole. I have no power over Santa’s calendar except this: I don’t put anything on it unless SANTA tells me to. (Well, after Mrs. Claus, of course).

He’s my boss.

So, when they call, I get to tell them, “when Santa tells me it goes on the calendar, it goes on the calendar”.

Until then, I wait.

I wait until Santa has time to meet with me. I don’t set an appointment with him. He calls me in.

When he calls me in he works from a billion scraps of paper. Post it notes, mostly. He scribbles down names and stuff and then expects me to put it all down on the calendar.

You have to be very specific with Santa. That’s your friendly Elf Joel tip-of-the-day. Remember this when you make a wish list or something for Santa. Be specific. Don’t tell him you want a new dolly for Christmas. Tell him you want the 2023 Molly Dolly that wets, cries and says “Mama” while closing her eyes. Otherwise who knows what you end up with.

Santa is not good at giving specifics but he’s great at remembering them.

For example, last year, around the 20th of January, he finally met with me and we went through his list of calendar events. He wanted me to put a meeting down with Elf Bernard, head of the workshop, for a specific date. He could remember the day but not the time. BUT – Santa knew exactly what he wanted to meet with him about and how long that meeting needed to be scheduled for. Good enough for me. Of course, I had to call Elf Bernard to see if he could remember the time – he did – and we got it on Santa’s calendar.

These are the down and dirty details of being Santa’s calendar guy. Exciting, eh?

That’s why these early days of January are so awesome for me.

There’s nothing to do.

Not yet.

And it’s glorious.

Happy January from the Pole.

Elf Joel

A New Year Begins

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A new year begins in tracking Santa. While most of the world enjoys a day off on this first day of the year we find ourselves at the North Pole enjoying a period of reflection. January is always a time of looking back and setting new goals as we look forward.

Before that process begins with meetings tomorrow, January 2nd, I wanted to give you an idea what to expect.

First of all, for you, there will be a little period of silence. It’s not that anyone at the North Pole wants to ignore or neglect you at this time. Your elf supervisor has been charged with completing evaluations and ratings for each of you. That takes some time. They need to review you activity, attendance, understanding, efforts and behaviors – and somehow boil it all down to a number.

I know this causes some anxiety. I go through it myself because Santa, as my Elf Supervisor, does the same thing to me. We all want to do well but this stuff about getting a grade is kind of nerve wracking.

So you understand why they want it to take some time. Please be patient. The supervisors are going to need weeks to accomplish this.

Meanwhile, I meet tomorrow with Santa. So do many other department heads. Nothing gets decided tomorrow. In fact, it will be several weeks of meetings that will take place in January. All of this talk will eventually lead to new plans for 2023.

For now, please don’t speculate. 2022 was a great year. We learned a great deal. We accomplished a lot. 2023 will be all about doing better. And that will mean changes.

Changes to our jobs. Changes to our titles. Changes to our website. Changes in just about all that we do.

Last year was epic change. This place doesn’t even look the same that it did a year ago, does it?

Expect that to happen again. And, like last year, it will get better.

We at the North Pole tend to stick to traditions. So not everything will change. It will be a mix of new and old. It will be fun. It will be challenging.

We hope 2023 will also be easier. We pray for less hardship, less sickness, less loss and a lot less sadness in this shiny new year. Much of what happens in the world is beyond our ability to impact. But in our world – the world of Santa, elves and the North Pole – there is much we can do to experience happiness and to bring happiness to others.

After all is said and done, even in January, that is what it is all about.

I’m looking forward to doing it with you again.

Elf Roger Star

Elf of the Year Announced

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Fellow Elves,

It is my honor, duty and privilege to announce our Elf of the Year. This distinction comes to just one in the Tracker Elf Community for a reason – and that reason IS community.

Out of all the elves who contribute to the efforts of Operation Merry Christmas none need community more than Tracker Elves. That’s because you all work remotely and largely alone. You do not get to attend the meetings, the rallies, the events, the celebrations and all the things that go on at the North Pole.

Your role is a special one. And a hard one. That is why we want to recognize an elf who best exemplifies the community we’re trying to build here among our tracker elves. You all are different, special and unique but you are all connected by your mission and your duties. It is important that you participate here, make your voice heard, get your questions answered and have a place where your Christmas light can shine and your Christmas spirit can be shared.

This past year was a big year for tracking Santa for Santa. We made great strides. We showed incredible improvement. We accomplished a great deal.

But none of those strides, improvements or accomplishments are more important than what one elf brought to us all over the course of this past year. She was present. She was hopeful. She was bright. She was inquisitive. She was helpful. She was merry, kind and always trying her best.

Our Elf of the Year is one we can all agree upon: she is Elf Ulan, of Japan.

It gives me particular satisfaction to recognize an elf from Sector 1 and particularly from the country of Japan. There are not a lot of elves from Japan. Japan is a country still fairly young in their knowledge of Christmas and their support of me.

Elf Ulan is thus a pioneer. She brought Japan to our Christmas table this year and fed us continually with the generous giving spirit of that great country and culture.

And to that country she will continue to bring a knowledge of Christmas and what we do as elves from the North Pole.

I know this recognition of Elf Ulan as Elf of the Year is one you will all find agreeable. Everyone knows Ulan. Everyone here, at least from what I can see, has had interactions with her and likewise enjoy her friendship and love.

Elf Ulan has been present at most chats this year, both on SantaTrackers.net and SantaUpdate.com. She has asked great questions of nearly every elf who has visited. She has immersed herself in elf life, making her joys of discovery available to us all. She has been fun, gracious and so very kind.

I see for her a great future as an elf. I am grateful for her many contributions.

There were, as there usually are, a number of deserving elves on our lists of finalists. In fact, we have spent the better part of two weeks debating it all. Even Mrs. Claus and myself have talked long hours over your many contributions. Certainly others are worthy of this distinction. In fact, all of you are.

You may not recognize yourselves as ground-breakers, but you ARE. Every. One. Of. You.

You see, 2022 was really our FIRST year of the tracker elf program. Yes, we “tested” it for five years previous and in that time we’ve seen a lot of elves come and go. We even lost a few good elves in 2022.

But you are the ones who overcame. The ones who stayed. The ones that stayed true to the Oath, to the Elf Code, and to the Elf Community. The ones who are serious about giving to others by helping me do what I do.

Those that continue to stay, that continue to grow this community and contribute to it, will be those who become elves of different kinds in the years ahead.

I get asked all the time what it takes to become one of those important elves at the North Pole. It takes time. It takes persistence. And it takes good role models. Elf Ulan is a good one to model yourself after. That is part of the reason why Elf Ulan is Elf of the Year.

Thank you all for your efforts.

In the New Year there will, once again, come many changes. We always work hard to improve. All of us can improve, especially me.

I thank all elves who work on my behalf, who try so hard to help Operation Merry Christmas succeed. Next week, we begin that effort anew. There will be a new countdown, new goals, new targets and new challenges. But the big goal, the one we all aspire to, is to be all the elf we can be by focusing on the love of others.

Thank you, Elf Ulan, for showing us that way.

Santa

It was Santa

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The mystery of all of the problems with Santa’s sleigh has been solved.

It. Was. Santa.

I kid you not.

When Elf Harold reported that the investigation into the sleigh by North Pole Security had been canceled I smelled a rat. Something like this just doesn’t go away so easily.

When the word went out that Santa was scheduled to meet with the Research and Development Department, and then with Flight Command, I decided to take a chance and see if Santa would talk to me.

I saw him at the Eggnog Faire today (it’s a thing here at the North Pole). When he saw me coming for him he immediately invited me to sit with him.

He told me he would tell me everything – if I promised to hold the story until he had a chance to talk to the elves in R&D, Flight Command, and even the teams at the Sleigh Barn.

I felt that was a reasonable request.

I’m told that has happened – and that now I can tell you.

Here is the transcript of my conversation with Santa just as it took place:

T: Santa, what happened to the test flights of Santa’s sleigh?
S: I messed with the sleigh designs. I had my reasons, but the whole thing is my fault, Trixie. I did it on purpose.

T: Why, Santa?
S: That’s a bit complicated to explain, Trixie and I cannot tell you everything. I’m concerned that a lot of elves won’t understand. But let’s just start with the fact that I wanted a lesson learned by our key sleigh people. I wanted them to see that there are more important things in Operation Merry Christmas than technical details. Sometimes in focusing on good things we lose sight of the most important things. That’s the lesson.

T: Ok, you’re right. I don’t understand.
S: Over the past several years the intense focus on the sleigh has been about going faster and setting records. That has been my fault because I’ve always made it clear that I want to go faster and set better times when I fly on Christmas Eve. It’s kind of a fun or even competitive thing for me. And I let it go too far. Last year, I talked to them about it, hoping they’d lighten up a little bit but it didn’t really happen. Part of the reason it didn’t happen is that they were successful. The sleighs of the past few years have been wonderful – cutting edge – oh, they did wonderful work. I felt a good challenge might center them on the important things.

T: So you sabotaged the project to humble the elves working on your sleigh?
S: Oh boy. Now you’re making me out to be some kind of meanie.

T: I’m trying to understand how this happened and why, Santa. Those elves knocked themselves out these past eight or nine months and everything they tried failed. The more they tried to improve things the more spectacular their failures.
S: Yes, I realize that. I’m not a big believer in things always going smoothly, Trixie. Things sometimes go wrong. Tension is sometimes a healthy thing. Adversity teaches us so many lessons. But I wasn’t trying to make things difficult for them. I was trying to make them more flexible. I was trying to get them to expand their thinking, to embrace new possibilities. I was trying to get them to see there are more than certain ways to do things. I was trying to get them to stay focused on the most important stuff. And frankly, how long it takes me to get around the world is pretty low on the list of important things to think about.

T: So this wasn’t about setting new speed records?
S: No, not at all.

T: I still don’t understand. I’m trying Santa. But I’m not getting this. How did you engineer the failures of the sleigh design?
S: Oh, that was easy. I had access to all the systems. The software they used was accessible to me because I’m Santa. I just went in and reverse a few numbers, slightly altering some things that would be hard to notice. And most of the time they were not noticed. So, they tweaked it to work and I tweaked it to fail. What we ended up with was a sleigh of imperfect design that ultimately couldn’t perform.

T: Why did you do that?
S: I did that because I wanted to see some creative, out-of-the-box thinking and action that would cause them to explore new ways of doing things.

T: Why didn’t you just tell them that you wanted to see that from them?
S: I did, Trixie.

T: When?
S: Last year during their reviews. We came out of Christmas 2021 on a high – it was a very successful run. But I told them in their department meetings, I discussed it with their department heads, and I had it addressed in each review with every elf.

T: And that failed?
S: No. It didn’t fail. In the end, it came out just right.

T: Explain.
S: Well, on Christmas Eve the assumption after the last test flight was that I was going to use last year’s sleigh in substitution. And that was a good assumption because that was the written backup plan. That decision was made last January and I signed it.

T: So what happened?
S: I changed my mind.

T: Just like that?
S: Just like that.

T: You can do that?
S: I did do that.

T: How did they react when you did that?
S: They said what they always say to me. They all said “Yes, sir”.

T: You knew some were upset though, didn’t you?
S: I did. I would have been against it too if I were them. But they are all great elves. Every one of them. They reacted exactly right, even though their hearts told them differently. Then the miracle happened.

T: What miracle?
S: The creative, out-of-the-box thinking I was looking for. It happened and it succeeded in a spectacular fashion.

T: Explain. I don’t understand.
S: I picked the one sleigh nobody wanted and everyone assumes I picked it because I’m fond of that sleigh. But that’s not why I picked that sleigh.

T: Why did you pick that sleigh?
S: Because it was the one sleigh everyone would agree as the worst possible choice. They knew I could never set any records in that sleigh. It’s old, it’s huge, it’s heavy. The thing is a beast and it handles like a pig. It’s hard to maneuver on snow but it really is a bugger in climates with no snow. When loaded fully it flies pretty well but with constantly shifting loads it’s inconsistent at best. I’ve loved that sleigh because of what it looks like and how comfortable it is for me but from a practical standpoint that big body design – which only lasted for a couple of years in the 1970s – is not a great choice.

T: So…how did this bad choice turn into a miracle?
S: Well, they had to get creative and do it fast. They had to retune the bells. They got that done. They had to reconfigure the flight plan using really old data, and they got that done. They had to put modern communication equipment and even computer systems that were non-existent in 1972 into the dash of that sleigh and they got that done beautifully. Everything that really needed to happen to get the job done they did quickly. No test flights. Everything just ran on faith and it ran beautifully.

T: So you saw what you wanted to see?
S: Yes. Don’t you see it, Trixie? Faith and belief is at the very heart of Christmas. We give when we sometimes don’t have much to give – and it works out. Giving isn’t about stuff, it’s about all you can do. The best things we give is when we give our best.

T: So, you’re saying that all the time and work and lost effort of Santa’s sleigh was all about teaching elves how to give better?
S: Yes.

T: The test flight that crashed. Do you take responsibility for that? Did the corrupted design lead to that crash?
S: No, that was a combination of factors out of the control of the pilot. But the sleigh was air worthy. I never compromised safety in the things I did.

T: What did you think when that sleigh went down?
S: I was pretty worried for a while.

T: Santa – how did you get that old sleigh to go so fast? Did you think the new record you set this year was possible?
S: I believed it was. You see, I remembered my flight in that sleigh from so many years ago. It was a good sleigh, despite it’s flaws. I believed in it. I also believed in the reindeer. I told each of them before we ever left that I needed a little more from them. They didn’t hesitate for even a second. From start to finish, the reindeer were all heart and soul.

T: Was it harder on the reindeer to pull that old sleigh?
S: No. Not at all. They could have pulled the Empire State building that night. They gave it all. They were unstoppable. It took my breath away, that take off.

T: So even you were surprised?
S: Yes, more than anyone. I almost fell back in the seat, it was so fast.

T: You weren’t expecting that?
S: Not at all.

T: What do you suppose those guys in R&D and at the sleigh barn were thinking after you took off in that old sleigh?
S: They were pretty down. I talked to them long and hard before launch. But I know they felt like they failed — that they had let me down. I wanted to admit to them right then and there that it was all my doing but I thought better of it.

T: You thought better of it?
S: Yes. They had to see my belief. They had to see what the reindeer did. They had to see the unexpected result. They had to see that everything turned out as it happened. If I had told them, then they would have been looking for that old sleigh to fail. But they weren’t. They needed to hope beyond hope that it worked. They needed to see that the efforts of the last few hours were better than the efforts for the whole year and that it was enough.

T: Could you have flown the sleigh they designed?
S: Yes, absolutely. It wasn’t much different than the year before. I would have been fine. But their hearts would have been in a different place than it is right now. Now you watch what they do in 2023. The sleigh is going to be a big story, you watch. Expect big things from whatever it is they come up with, Trixie. Mark it down.

T:  Santa, how did those elves respond when you told them all this?
S: Dead silence was the response. There were some numb stares, for sure. And I’m pretty sure a few of them are angry. I hope they get over it.

T: Do you think there will be some lasting effects from all this?
S: Gee, I hope so.

T: What if you have some elves who don’t like all this and quit?
S: Well, I’d hate to see that. But I’d understand. It’s not my practice to mess with things like this, Trixie. Mrs. Claus is not too happy with me. I never thought it would go as far as it did. Frankly, I thought they would have started to see it before things ever reached the point that they did on Christmas Eve.

T: So it was or was not your intention to fly the old sleigh?
S: That was never my intention. That was a snap decision. In fact, I thought I had failed with this whole thing when I wasn’t discovered after that test flight crashed in the Pacific. I really thought that event was going to be enough to trigger our teams to thinking in the spirit I wanted them to think. This is really some advanced Christmas stuff to learn, Trixie. There’s a degree of perfectionism in Christmas that I think too many people get caught up in. Even elves. Even me, heck, I’m not immune from falling into that trap. It happens.

T: What do you mean by perfectionism in Christmas?
S: You know how some people get all bent if their Christmas tree doesn’t look a certain way? Or if their lights aren’t just so? Of if their cookies come out a little flat, their eggnog a little sour, or the stockings are hung just a little off? Have you noticed how little, unimportant things can ruin a Christmas for some people?

T: Well, yeah. I’ve seen it. Not everybody gets hung up on stuff though, Santa.
S: No, but many do. But my point is that there’s no such thing as a perfect Christmas just as there is no such thing as a perfect person. We’re all flawed, and wonderfully so. Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfect.

T: So the big lesson here is that they worked with precision all year and then had to give all that up and focus in an entirely heart-filled, belief-filled, faith-filled way at the last minute and that it worked out?
S: Yeah.

T: I can see why Mrs. Claus is upset a little bit, Santa.
S: You can see that but you can’t see my point?

T: I see your point. It just seems like a really hard way to learn it.
S: I think the best things we learn come from learning it hard.

T: Is that the theory we are sticking with in this thing?
S: It’s the best I’ve got at the moment.

T: Hahaha – okay, Santa. Fair enough. Does that mean you’re saying you won’t do this type of thing again?
S: Yeah, I guess I’m trying to say I could have thought this through better. But, it worked out. At least I think it did.

T: How close was North Pole Security to figuring this out?
S: Real close. But you just don’t accuse Santa of something sneaky like that.

T: What would have happened if they figured it out?
S: I would have told the truth. At the end of the day, I’m not ashamed of what I did. I’m trying to be a responsible Santa. Working with elves is a little like raising children. I can’t see elves as employees. I just can’t. They are thinking human beings. They want to do well, they try hard. They really want to please. I want us all to learn so, as Santa, I sometimes have to think outside of the box as well. Try new things. Seek better results. At the end of the day I have to demand that of myself while I try to get the same from them. I was imperfect at this one. But I wasn’t wrong.

T: So what’s the lesson here for Santa?
S: The lesson is that love powers what we do. Not sleighs. Not presents. Not tracker elves. Not cookies or eggnog or Christmas trees or stockings. Love is behind all that stuff and more. When we are powered by love first and leave things like science and schedules and lists and anxiety and rushing around and fretting over the unimportant details, when we leave all that stuff behind, and just focus on love, everything works out.

T: Operation Merry Christmas did work out in 2022, didn’t it?
S: Yes, spectacularly so. The past few years have been hard on the world. So much sadness. So much suffering. So many people hurting from the things of life. I think Operation Merry Christmas, at least for one day, made everyone set that aside this year. If I could give the world anything, Trixie, it would be a smile. That’s it. Just a warm, how-ya-doin’ kind of feeling that you’ve got a friend, that life is good, that love is the most important thing.

 

 

Sleigh Investigation Cancelled

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North Pole Security closed their investigation into whatever happened with Santa’s new sleigh in 2022.

The sleigh was famously troubled when test flights began in July. The sleigh crash in test trials in August and suffered with various performance issues all year long. After the final troubled test flight on Christmas Eve, it was determined not to use the new sleigh at all for Santa’s flight.

Santa shocked everyone at Flight Command and at the Research and Development Department when he opted not to use last year’s sleigh for his flight. Instead he chose to use one of the largest and heaviest sleighs ever made in history, a model that was last flown for Christmas 1972.

Despite the age of the sleigh, it was retrofit with current computers and communications equipment in the hours before Santa took off. To the surprise of nearly everyone, Santa then went on to flawlessly deliver to the world at apparent record speeds, setting yet another all-time delivery time record.

No explanation was given today by the North Pole Security Department for their closure of the investigation. According to Elf Agent X, head of North Pole Security, Santa wants the elves in Research and Development and in Flight Command to enjoy a few more days off before he meets with them to “discuss the future of Santa’s sleigh”.

This is a breaking story, more developments as we get them.

Santa Settles in for Christmas Parties

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Santa has taken a good, long nap – as have many others – and now there will be a round of post-Christmas parties to attend.

One of the last of those parties this week will be a North Pole Flight Command.

Once Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at the North Pole, and the last of the returning sleighs from Operation Airlift came back, North Pole Flight Command shut down the sleigh port. All sleighs have been grounded now and there is no one coming or going at the North Pole. For the first time since last Christmas, there are absolutely no sleighs in the skies.

The crews at Flight Command were then free to return home to their families and were given several days off. It is well deserved.

Between now and the day after New Year’s things are going to be shut down at the North Pole. Santa has called this our week of Celebrating Christmas.

But before the books are closed on Operation Merry Christmas 2022 and before we start to focus on next Christmas there will be some last minute things handled. For those of us here it will be the naming of Elf of the Year.

That will likely be announced on December 31st. It is a job that Santa wants to handle personally.

We look forward to next Christmas. But I do think it is important to celebrate what was accomplished this year. Moving forward is always important. But with Christmas we always honor the past in all that we do.

This was a formative year for SantaTrackers.net and the entire Tracker Elf project. Lessons were learned. Of course we can look forward to some changes.

But before we do all that we need to celebrate where we have come from. We need to value and savor, just a little bit, what was accomplished.

We’re doing that this week and we hope you are too.

So Merry Christmas!

And here’s to the future.

Elf Roger Star

Santa Launches Soon

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Are you listening to Kringle Radio? Are you following the news from the North Pole at SantaUpdate.com?

Santa is launching soon. It has been an eventful time the past several hours at the North Pole. I’m not sure what all this sleigh business means for tracking Santa in the hours ahead but you’ll want to stay on top of the news.

I have it on good authority that Elf Crash Murphy’s sleigh is already in the air and just waiting for Santa to join him so they can head south.

Trackers Unaffected By New Sleigh

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The news of Santa’s alternative sleigh choice for flight this year does not affect tracking Santa at all.

Tracker elves are encouraged to stay focused and to listen closely to direction from their Elf Supervisors. Reporting needs MAY change, based on many factors. Weather, public events and other unscheduled and unanticipated elements can chance when and how trackers report.

But sleighs never do.

Over the past half hour, since the news of Santa’s choice of new sleigh was announced, the North Pole and Flight Command have been flooded with messages of concern for Santa’s flight and choice of vehicle. Some of these messages have come from elves and some have come from fans and believers all over the world.

For tracker elves we admonish you to keep doing what you are doing. We do NOT anticipate further needs at this time. As far as we are concerned, this is a normal flight. We will treat it as such and leave the sleigh decisions to Santa and his experts.

If you have questions, please use the form below:

Kringle Radio Broadcast Begins

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Kringle Radio has just launched the Tracking Santa Around the World live radio broadcast. CLICK HERE to open the player in its own page.

This should be the only sound coming out of your speaks for the next 50 hours, folks.

The North Pole Radio News Reports are useful in tracking Santa for Santa. You will hear what is happening from before Santa’s launch until his return to the North Pole. News updates are scheduled twice each hour.

Sector 4 Cruises to the Finish Line

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Feliz Navidad! Christmas Eve is upon us in mere hours now and we’re going into it with a head of steam. Here’s the elf count:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 10,047
Freelance Tracker Elves: 3,854,114
Total Tracker Elves: 3,864,161

That’s isn’t quite our goal but I think we’re gonna make it. Where we HAVE made it is in our tracker reports:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 77,362
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 17,343,513
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 17,420,875

I don’t have any instruction for you right now except for this: PAY ATTENTION!!!

Our news page is located HERE. We want you paying attention to me via that page. If you don’t watch that page you won’t see the stuff Santa needs for our sector. So check in frequently and go to that page only.

Trackers About to Go on Alert

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Trackers – just a reminder for you: we are just hours away of OFFICIAL proceedings.

You need to remember to check your SECTOR NEWS PAGE. From this point forward, all news will be individual to your sector. If you are in Sector 3, please don’t follow any other sector. Pay attention to what YOUR elf supervisor tells you. Here are the links to your news page:

Sector 1
Sector 2
Sector 3
Sector 4
Sector 5

Bookmark it, stamp it on your forehead, write it on your hand – whatever you need to do. Just zero in on that page to receive instruction from your supervisor.

Naturally, Sectors will go in order with some of these proceedings.

Step #1, is your official Christmas Eve tracker check in.

That’s the first thing your supervisor is going to ask for.

Then the directions will be individual.

Pay attention.

It is about to begin.

Elf Roger Star