Merry Greetings!

What is it with kids and the email thing? As the Santa updates have picked up steam so have the emails to Santa. Kids want to know everything from their status on the naughty list to what it takes to become an elf and work at the North Pole. Fortunately, we have plenty of Christmas for them online:

In this issue:
-- The Magic of Santa
-- Inflation Hits the 12 Days of Christmas
-- Santa Clause 3 :: Movie Review
-- The Story of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'
-- Elf JingleBelle's Tip: US Post Office Specialty Post Marks
-- The Nativity in the News
-- Seeking True Stories of Santa

The Merry News is brought to you by:

The Magic of Santa

Many of you are familiar with Elf Ed Zachary, Santa's resident writer-elf who produces a column for the North Pole Gazette. He is also an ardent Santa defender. In this new feature on My Merry Christmas Elf Ed takes on the so-called magic of Santa and answers the deep questions on everything from how reindeer fly to just how Santa can logically get down that chimney. Elf Ed is a little wry. And he's very opinionated. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Inflation Hits the 12 Days of Christmas

Those eight maids-a-milking aren't working for just the tips anymore. A Pittsburgh financial institution has tracked the cost of the 12 days of Christmas and this year they report things are costing more.

Santa Claus 3 :: Movie Review

Tim Allen's third time around as Santa Claus is his last. Thank goodness. This isn't a movie that will make the classics list. In fact, it could go down as one of the worst Christmas movies of all time. Released in early November, Santa Claus 3 stars Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Martin Short, Alan Arkin and Ann Margaret.

The Story of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'

The cadence of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' is so familiar to us that we recognize it within two words. Satirists pay it the ultimate compliment by copying it's rhythm. Literally thousands of creative works have been modeled by the 19th century verse. But for all it's fame 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' was never supposed to be so well known nearly two centuries after it was created. This is the story of Clement Clark Moore and his creation of the Christmas classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'.

Elf JingleBelle's Tip: US Post Office Specialty Post Marks

Did you know that you can have your Christmas cards postmarked from one of almost 10 cities or towns with holiday-themed names, like Antlers, OK, or Bethlehem, PA? Yes, you can!

Here's how:

*Put your addressed and stamped greeting cards in a box or envelope labeled "Holiday Greeting Card Re-Mailing."

*Address your package to the Postmaster of the town where you would like your cards postmarked.

For example: Holiday Greeting Re-Mailing Postmaster Antlers, OK 74523

*Affix sufficient First-Class Mail® postage on the envelope or box to cover mailing costs.

*Mail greetings out early so your cards can be postmarked, re-mailed, and delivered in time for the holidays.

*Most cards received by the holiday Post Office™ location by December 14 will be delivered by December 25.

Now, here's the list of Holiday theme Post Offices:

* Advent WV 25231
* Angeles PR 00611
* Angels Camp CA 95222
* Antler ND 58711
* Antlers OK 74523
* Bell CA 90201
* Bell FL 32619
* Bethlehem CT 06751
* Bethlehem GA 30620
* Bethlehem IN 47104
* Bethlehem KY 40007
* Bethlehem MD 21609
* Bethlehem NH 03574
* Bethlehem PA 18016
* Blessing TX 77419
* Chestnut IL 62518
* Christmas FL 32709
* Christmas MI 49862 (community Post Office of Munising)
* Evergreen AL 36401
* Evergreen CO 80439
* Evergreen LA 71333
* Evergreen MT 59901 (branch of Kalilspell Post Office)
* Evergreen NC 28438
* Evergreen VA 23939
* Faith NC 28041
* Faith SD 57626
* Frost MN 56033
* Frost TX 76641
* Garland ME 04939
* Garland NE 68360
* Garland NC 28441
* Garland PA 16416
* Garland TX 75040
* Garland UT 84312
* Holly CO 81047
* Holly MI 48442
* Hope AK 99605
* Hope AR 71801
* Hope ID 83836
* Hope IN 47246
* Hope KS 67451
* Hope KY 40334
* Hope MI 48628
* Hope MN 56046
* Hope NJ 07844
* Hope NM 88250
* Hope ND 58046
* Hope RI 02831
* Joseph OR 97846
* Joseph City AZ 86032
* Joy IL 61260
* Mistletoe KY 41351
* Nazareth KY 40048
* Nazareth MI 49074
* Nazareth PA 18064
* Nazareth TX 79063
* Noel MO 64854
* North Pole NY 12946 (community Post Office of Lake Placid)
* Partridge KS 67566
* Partridge KY 40862
* Rudolph OH 43462
* Rudolph WI 54475
* Saint Joseph IL 61873
* Saint Joseph LA 71366
* Saint Joseph MI 49085
* Saint Joseph MN 56374
* Saint Joseph MO 64501
* Saint Joseph TN 38481
* Saint Mary KY 40063
* Saint Mary MO 63673
* Saint Mary MT 59417 (community Post Office of Browning)
* Saint Mary's AK 99658
* Saint Mary's GA 31558
* Saint Mary's IN 46556 (branch of Notre Dame Post Office)
* Saint Mary's IA 50241
* Saint Mary's KS 66536
* Saint Mary's OH 45885
* Saint Mary's PA 15857
* Saint Mary's WV 26170
* Santa ID 83866
* Santa Claus IN 47579
* Shepherd MI 48883
* Shepherd MT 59079
* Shepherd TX 77371
* Snow OK 74567
* Snowflake AZ 85937
* Snow Shoe PA 16874
* Spruce MI 48762
* Star ID 83669
* Star MS 39167
* Star NC 27356
* Star TX 76880
* Starlight PA 18461
* Surprise NY 12176
* Wiseman AR 72587

The Nativity in the News

With the release of The Nativity Story in theaters this past week we have seen no shortage of the Nativity in the News. From Missouri comes the story of a local church where nativity sets from around the world are collected and displayed. And from Chicago comes word of a Christmas fair that has banned viewing of clips from the new movie because operators of the fair didn't want to offend non-Christian attendees of the event.

Seeking True Stories of Santa

A reader wrote last week to point out that it has been a while since we updated our Santa Sightings. Santa Sightings are true stories of close encounters with Santa Claus. This merry section of our site is entirely user-supported. We don't make these stories up -- we merely share what is shared with us. But it has been a while since we have heard a good one. If you know of someone who can detail a visit with Santa in their home, we'd love to hear it. Submit your story through this link.

Parting Shot...

In the flood of email we usually get around the 1st of December was a note from one Willie Hancock, of Rawlins, Wyoming. He wrote to ask one of the most perplexing questions we've ever faced concerning Santa Claus:

"You fellows seem to have Santa all figured out," Willie writes. "So tell me why nobody asks and nobody knows why Santa wears that goofy hat."

We're going to put Elf Ed Zachary on it. But if any of you have any inspiration on this one, please let me know.

-- All the best,
Jeff