Kids explain Christmas mysteries

Along with all the magic that surrounds Christmas, there also are plenty of unanswered questions.

The logistics of one particular man's Christmas Eve feats baffle even the truest of believers. How exactly does Santa Claus do what he does so well?

From the time children first hear of Santa, they are told marvelous tales of how he traverses the entire world in just one night delivering toys to all the good boys and girls. Some children can't fathom how Santa manages to get to each and every house in the span of one night fall.

Santa stories also tell of the man riding through the night in his great sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer - which brings up a host of other tricky questions. How is it that small reindeer can pull a sled full of a world's supply of toys? And why is it no one ever counts Rudolph among the eight reindeer?

Many children find one word explains perfectly the many supposed impossibilities Santa overcomes during his annual journey: magic. That word for some children means there is no need for proof of or logical explanations for Santa's monumental undertakings. But for other children, especially older ones, the Santa legend can be better explained than simply saying he's magic.

Some local elementary students recently submitted their explanations for two vexing questions that crop up when thinking about the logistics of Santa and his flying reindeer.

. How do reindeer fly?

. How does Santa, with his belly like that of a bowl full of jelly, fit down the chimney?

From Lisa Tannehill's second-grade class at Elrod Elementary:

"Reindeer fly by gingoll bells and magic."

- Cody Sherrill

"Reindeer fly on Christmas spirit. And if you are awake, you can hear the litl hooves on the roof."

- Lisa Holt

"Reindeer fly because God made a miricale. Reindeer have a special jingel bell necklace."

- Emily Nicholson

"Santa could crawl up in to a ball and puts water down the chimney."

- Jaden Burns

"Santa louses wait at a workout before Crismas."

- Blake Wilson

From Mikelle Wiley's second-grade class at Elrod Elementary:

"How do randeer fly. It is magic light from Santa."

- Quinten Graham

"Reindeer get there magic from christmas spirit. They get the magic from the people who believe in santa clause."

- Blake Kinsey

"How do reindeer fly? They need magic cnady cane."

- Gwen Disney-Hanson

"Santa has this magic rope. He throws the magic rope over the raindeer and they fly."

- Makayla Dillon

"Reindeer eat magic reindeer dust to fly. Santa Clause feeds them every Christmaseve so they can fly. Santa Clause is real. Reindeed pol his slay."

- Jordan Kiger

"He pushes a buton on a ball. And he turns him self into dust and goes down the chimney. And he gives you tons and tons of toys and candy."

- Gregory Kelly

"Santa tuches hes nose. the chimney get's biger. In then he goes down."

- Ashton Barkley

From Susan Kitchen's third-grade class at Deer Park:

"Their ears are so strong they move them to make them fly."

- Kody Craner

"When Santa hires them he gives them magic so they can fly."

- Olivia Peterson

"They use their horns and they walk in air with their magic."

- Justin Bangtson

From Susan Kitchen's fourth-grade class at Deer Park:

"Santa just takes the door into the house, people just say he takes the chimney."

- Emma Covill

"They have jet packs."

- Alex McCracken

"Santa is magical, he fits down the chimney, its easy, he sucks in really tight sometimes the chimney is so tight he's just like a pin."

- Tiffany Borland

"Santa is not really fat. He just has alot of stuffing to keep him warm. He takes it off when he goes down the chimney."

- Ravyn Correa

"I think he makes the chimney bigger. What I want to know is what if there are no chimneys for him to go through what does he do?"

- Angelicka Arnold