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She arrived at Deep Roots Bakery and Café’ early
in the morning and stayed until nearly noon, visiting with area
children, and enjoying cocoa and sweet treats from the bakery.
During her visit, she had many young visitors.
So many, that by the end of the morning her voice was clearly
running out as she had spent time visiting, answering questions, and
reading story books to all who stopped by to see her.
She noted that there had been quite a crowd around the middle part
of the morning, and she had very much enjoyed spending time with so
many good little girls and boys. She would report back to Santa at
the North Pole that the children in Lincoln and Logan County were
being extra good this year.
During the morning, she enjoyed sharing information about the north
pole, the reindeer, and the elves with all the children.
She was asked if she had come to Lincoln in the
reindeer powered flying sleigh and she said no she had not. She went
on to explain that Christmas Eve is a very strenuous night for the
reindeer. From Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, the reindeer stay
home. They get rested up, practice their flying skills, and get
plenty of healthy food. Then, when Christmas Eve comes, they are
happy, healthy, full of energy and ready to go with Santa on his
magical trip around the world delivering toys to good little girls
and boys.
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She said that when the reindeer are at home, she and Santa often
reach their destinations in a large red van that has a license plate that says
“Santa.” And a sticker that says, “North Pole edition.”
When they appear in parades, before Christmas, often the parade organizers
arrange for special transportation. For example, this year at the Lincoln
Christmas Parade, Santa, and Mrs. Claus will have the pleasure of going through
the parade in the beautiful horsed drawn carriage that is giving free rides
around the Logan County Courthouse square this holiday season.
She was asked about what the elves do after Christmas, and she said that they
rest a very little bit, then get back to work, preparing for next Christmas. She
told children that contrary to how it is depicted in story books and television
shows, Santa’s Village is really very large. In total there are more then 3,700
elves at the North Pole performing a wide variety of duties in preparation for
Christmas.
She shared that there is something odd about the Elves. They all have the same
first name – Fred. She said that was crucial at the North Pole, because Santa
has a lot of names to remember with all the children in the world, so calling
each elf by the same first name makes life easier for him.
Mrs. Claus noted that sometimes, when seeing Santa for the first time, little
ones are a tiny bit frightened. She said Santa is kind and loving and there is
no need to be afraid, but at the same time she understands why they might be.
After all, he’s dressed all in red, he’s got a big jolly laugh and an even
bigger white beard. He is a stranger as well, and that alone can be intimidating
to first time visitors.
She said on the other hand, children are rarely afraid of her. She said its
because she is softer spoken and she has that look of a kind, loving mother or
even grandmother. Children are comforted by her presence because she is soft and
soft spoken.
Mrs. Claus said she had a wonderful time at the bakery on Saturday morning. She
was happy that the fine folks at Deep Roots had invited her and even happier
that so many children came to visit with her.
Mrs. Claus plans to be back in Lincoln on Thursday evening, riding beside Santa
in the Christmas Parade and joining him at the Logan County Tourism Bureau
Visitors Center afterward for a fun time of visiting with Children once again.
The Thursday night parade will start at 6:30 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be
the final entry and will go straight to the Visitors Center at the Lincoln Depot
on North Chicago Street. While there, children can also enjoy hot cocoa and
cookies once again, courtesy of the Logan County tourism Bureau.
[Nila Smith]
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