| A lot of what is widely regarded as true about | | | | plan to make their trip the next day. That's because |
| Christmas or held as a tradition cannot or has not | | | | as the tale goes, in Finland Santa Claus and his |
| been verified, or, has changed through the years. | | | | reindeers do not reach their destinations around the |
| Even Christmas Day itself, Dec. 25, has been | | | | globe by flying. |
| questioned about whether that is the exact day on | | | | Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop but |
| which Jesus was born. Skeptics have asked why | | | | there is nothing said about whether visitors actually |
| would shepherds be out in the cold watching their | | | | have any chance of having a word with the man |
| flocks by night during the winter. Those skeptics | | | | himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to |
| have put forward the thought that Jesus may really | | | | be non-existent, among the questions that inquiring |
| have been born in the spring instead. It is therefore | | | | minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son |
| little wonder that there are many fancy stories and | | | | of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or |
| tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas | | | | Donder) or whether Santa spotted him in a different |
| season. | | | | reindeer village one foggy Christmas Eve when he |
| The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, | | | | had already started on his Christmas toy-delivery |
| particularly to children, is about Santa Claus, also called | | | | mission. |
| St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted that Santa | | | | If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then |
| Claus existed, where does he live and how is he able | | | | he also would likely have some questions for us |
| to get to all the houses of good boys and girls on | | | | humans. He may want to know whose idea was it to |
| Christmas Eve? | | | | have Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed |
| In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two | | | | under them. |
| homes. There is a home in Torrington, Connecticut, | | | | The tradition of Christmas tree as it exists today |
| which is used as a distribution point for Santa and his | | | | comes from Germany by way of immigrants. But it |
| many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And | | | | isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold in |
| then, a second home is said to be located in | | | | Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany |
| Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus | | | | during the 16th century started to bring trees that |
| and his delivery reindeer crew are located. | | | | were decorated into their homes. Some of those |
| But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime | | | | Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The |
| and what about the widely held belief that Santa | | | | pyramids were made of wood and would be |
| Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole? | | | | decorated with evergreens and candles if wood was |
| The people of Finland also claim that their country is | | | | in short supply. |
| the official residence of Santa Claus. That's because | | | | It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, |
| in Finland, you can actually visit a village any time | | | | who is said to have been the first to add lighted |
| during the year and see Santa's workshop and | | | | candles as decoration to a tree based on his |
| observe Santa and his elves hard at work as they | | | | inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that |
| prepare for their very important Christmas gift | | | | shone through evergreen trees as he walked home |
| delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when | | | | one winter evening. |
| Santa's workshop is closed to visitors is of course, on | | | | As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a |
| Christmas Eve. | | | | primary room of his house and placed wires with |
| Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's | | | | small, lighted candles around the branches of the tree. |
| workshop on the day before Christmas Eve to see if | | | | And that is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree |
| there are any clues to how Santa and his reindeers | | | | as known today, was started. |