Where does Santa get the energy?

This is not one of those laments for the days when we were lucky to get an orange in the toe of our solitary sock on Christmas morning.

 

I’m all for celebrating Christmas in a spirit of abundance and magic, and I think children should be at the heart of it.

 

I love the build-up to the end of December—the decorations appearing in shop windows, the sparkle in the air, the sentimental adverts.

 

But one of the most important figures in the whole Christmas scene seems to have lost the run of himself completely.

 

I loved bringing the children to see Santa when they were younger, but if I had to bring a little one to visit him nowadays, I wouldn’t know where to start. You don’t just queue up at your local shop and get your picture taken with the big man anymore, oh no!

 

Santa Claus has become far more ambitious and is no longer satisfied to sit in the corner of a department store and go “Ho, ho, ho!” all day.

 

 

Now, you’ll find him at Santa’s Village, on board his Santa Train, in residence on Christmas Island and even at Ireland’s very own North Pole.

 

There are magic mazes, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice rinks and mining villages. How do parents decide where to track him down?

 

In my town of Killarney alone, Santa will appear in five parades through the town (every weekend from November 28th to the New Year).

 

When he’s not waving to the crowds, he will be meeting boys and girls in the magical surroundings of Deenagh Cottage, which looks like it popped straight out of a fairy tale all year round.

 

Then there is Muckross Christmas Magic, a new introduction this year, which will see Santa and his elves meeting their cousins the Mucklorians, a normally secretive band of elves who are supplying a special fuel for the sleigh that is only mined in Muckross (you get a go on the sleigh too).

 

Obviously, fitness is the man’s secret weapon, as he will also be participating in a fun run through the town on December 13th.

 

And that’s just in one town! I wonder if I write a letter to Santa will he send me some of his energy this year?