Snacks for Santa
Rising from his knees, the man in the velvet red suit takes one last look at the gifts he has placed with care beneath the festive tree. He straightens his cap, smooths his beard and stretches his back; delivering gifts to children around the entire world in a single night is hard work for an old man.
A grumble comes from his tummy—he’s worked up an appetite. Glancing up at the fireplace mantel, he spies what he seeks: a plate full of cookies and a glass of white milk. He drinks most of the milk and takes the cookies to go.
It’s his last delivery in Canada, one of a few countries that hold to the cookies and milk tradition. But the cookies and milk aren't the only treats fueling his journey across the skies on Christmas Eve, as children in other countries leave out a variety of snacks and drinks for Santa Claus and his sleigh-pulling team.
In England, he gratefully tips back a well-earned glass of sherry to accompany a freshly made mince pie, leaving not a crumb behind.
The children in Argentina are always concerned for Rudolph and his companions, so Santa makes sure they get the hay and water left out for them before continuing on his way.
In Denmark, the children remember the elves, so Santa packs up the rice pudding to bring back to his toy-making team.
While he’s in France, he refuels by enjoying the biscuits set out for him, happily munching away while the sleigh team does the same on the carrots left for them.
By the time he leaves Australia, his cheeks are flushed extra pink from drinking the glasses of beer that awaited him at each house, but the cold refreshment was welcome during the deliveries in the heat of their summer.
The pan de Pasqua in Chile helps fortify Santa with carbs, the holiday fruitcake settling happily in his tummy beneath his signature red cloak.
In Sweden, he’s thankful to receive a boost of caffeine from the hot cups of coffee left out for him.
When imbibing on various offerings of wine in Italy, Santa’s eyes sparkle a little extra when there’s a tangerine left beside the libation.
In some countries, children leave out food for Santa’s soul instead of his stomach; in Germany, he receives heartfelt thank-you notes, which he carefully tucks away to bring home to the North Pole to share with Mrs. Claus.
By the time Santa Claus has finished his deliveries for his busiest night of the year, he’s predictably tired, but thanks to the thoughtful treats left out for him, he doesn’t feel the need to rush back home to the North Pole for breakfast quite yet. Instead, he directs his sleigh team to run one last lap through the skies, laughing his jolly belly laugh and bellowing out, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all—a good night!”
