At this time of year, many of our Press readers have questions about Santa, the elves and the reindeer.

For the answers, we went to the Providence Children's Learning Center, 1290 Minesite Road, Allentown, at Grace Community Church Dec. 18.

There, we found Caine Kachmar, Isabella Fulper, Hadlee Horvath, Robert Horvath, Zoe Santana, Bella DeMarco and Landon Miller, ready with answers to our questions.

Q. What is Santa's most favorite Christmas Eve snack?

A. Landon is sure Santa's favorite snack is goldfish. Isabella said Santa enjoys cookies, Caine added milk, Bella believes Santa enjoys candy canes, Robert believes cookies and milk and Hadlee says Santa's favorite snack is chocolate.

Q. Does Santa have any children?

A. Most of the children said yes, believing Santa's children are the elves. When asked how many elves there are, the children responded with two, five, 100, 772 and 1 million. Robert said Santa does not have any children. He said the elves are the workers.

Q. Does Santa have any hobbies?

A. "He reads the children's lists," Hadlee said. "He eats candy," Bella said. "He makes toys for boys and girls," Robert said. "He makes things out of wood," Caine said.

Q. Why is Santa's suit red?

A. "To match his eyes," Zoe said; "To match his reindeer's collars," Bella said, "to be as bright at Rudolph's nose," Robert suggested; "It's his favorite color," Hadlee said; "Because [wearing red] makes it snow," Caine said.

Q. What is Santa's favorite kind of music?

A. Jazz music, Christmas music, Jingle Bells, Reindeer songs and music with drums, sticks and triangles.

Q. How much does Santa weigh?

A. There was a small discrepancy here with answers ranging from four pounds, nine pounds, and 35 pounds to hundreds of pounds and 500 million pounds.

Q. Who is Santa's favorite reindeer?

A. Children believe it is Rudolph, Olive or Cupid.

Q. Is Santa ever sad?

A. The children said Santa is very sad when boys and girls are naughty and he can't bring them toys for Christmas.

Q. How do the reindeer fly?

A. "Santa has magic dust inside the sleigh. Before he takes off, he tosses the magic dust on every reindeer. While they are flying, if it wears off, he reaches in and sprinkles more magic dust," Robert said. Bella agreed and called it reindeer dust. Caine said Santa just uses magic.

Q. Is there anything else The Press readers need to know about Santa?

A. I received a letter from Santa," Hadlee said. "Elves need the kids to believe in Santa so they are happy and then they can make more toys."

"Everyone should be good, just at Christmas time," Caine said.

"Santa could hold Rudolph in one hand when he was born; now he's so big he was able to put a large hoof print on the letter I received," Robert said.

"Santa is at home at the North Pole," Zoe said.

"Santa reads Ninja books," Landon said.