How does Santa get down the chimney? Rudolph helps him!

Surrounded by a winter wonderland of snow and sparkly decorations, a number of children shared their thoughts on the most wonderful time of year with The Impartial Reporter. Here they share the naughtiness their cheeky elves have been up to this year, how they think Santa Claus gets down the chimney and their strong opinions on a Christmas dinner staple - Brussels sprouts.

As the children eagerly anticipate Santa’s visit, we asked them if they have ever caught a sneak peak of him in the flesh.

“I seen him at my house because I snuck out of my bed and then I seen him. I hid behind the sofa and then I seen him,” shared Anna. When asked what Santa was doing, she said: “He was putting out our presents.”

Joshua explained that his mum had seen Santa in his house and took a photograph as proof: “He was downstairs in the sitting room. My mum was trying to get a drink and she took a picture of Santa. He was putting presents underneath the tree.”

Annalena, Lila-Rose and Lottie all caught Santa out doing his Christmas shopping.

“I’ve seen Santa, at the shop,” shared Annalena, “We were posting our Santa letters.”

Lila-Rose said: “I’ve seen him two times, at the shops. He was getting presents.”

“I seen him at Erneside and I also tried calling him on my mum’s phone,” said Lottie, adding: “He didn’t answer.”

When asked how does Santa gets down the chimney, Emma said she thinks he uses “Christmas magic”.

However Dylan and Joshua had other ideas.

“Because he has a red nose, he just clicks it and then he teleports down the chimney,” said Joshua.

On the other hand Dylan believes that Santa gets help from his faithful sidekick Rudolph: “He presses the reindeer’s nose and then he goes down.”

To travel around the world in just one night, Santa obviously needs some snacks to help him on his way. When asked what treats she leaves for Santa, Emma said: “Milk and chestnuts maybe.”

Whilst Lottie left Santa a traditional treat of mince pies and a glass of milk last year, Anna went for something a little different.

“Last year for Santa’s drink I gave him beer. He drunk half of it and then he left a note,” she said. When asked what was written on the note, smiling Anna shared: “Next time leave milk.”

Over the last few years, elves have been tasked by Santa to visit homes in Fermanagh and keep watch to see if children are being naughty or nice in the lead up to Christmas.

When asked if she thinks she is on the naughty or nice list, Lila-Rose said: “Santa said I’m on the nice list.” Lottie said that she is also on the nice list. When asked if Santa told her she was on the nice list just like he did Lila-Rose, Lottie said: “No, I just know.”

Oscar said that he was on the nice list too. When asked what he has done that’s nice, he said: “Trying to be friends with my friends.”

Even though the elves are meant to be keeping an eye on the children for Santa, they very often get up to naughty activities themselves.

“My elf is called Teddy. He put wrapping paper on the toilet,” said Lila-Rose. Lottie’s elf Buddy has also been up to mischief: “He has put sugar on the counter and made a snow angel.”

Emma said that her elf had been playing with her toys in the bathroom and he got wet, whilst Anna shared that her elf has been very naughty. “It took my pants out of my drawer and put them on the Christmas tree,” she laughed.

However Joshua’s elf seems to be the naughtiest of them all: “He put toilet roll all around the Christmas tree and he knocked it over.

“My parents thought it was me,” he said.

Finally, we asked the children the most controversial question of them all: Do they like Brussels sprouts?

Unsurprisingly we got a resounding “no”.

“I tasted one before and I threw it in the bin,” said Anna, screwing up her face at the thought. When Lottie was asked if she liked Brussels sprouts, she said: “No! Because they are disgusting. Yet when we followed up with “have you ever tried one?” she exclaimed: “No! Because I think they stink.”