The Naughty List
Today marked our celebration of the infamous Naughty List, a tradition that has captivated children and adults alike for generations. The concept of children being judged as naughty or nice dates back to 16th century Holland, where good children found treats in their clogs while naughty ones discovered lumps of coal. The idea was immortalized in the 1934 song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, declaring that Santa keeps a meticulous list to determine who receives gifts.
Little did we know until today that, in addition to Bushy Evergreen, Pepper Minstix, Shinny Upatree, Sugarplum Mary, and Wunorse Poenslae, there is a Head Elf named Alabaster Snowball who is actually the one in charge of the lists according to North Pole lore. But that’s besides the point! Whether Santa Claus or Alabaster Snowball is the one making the list doesn’t change the fact that you want to be on the Nice List!
To kick off the day, we presented our mischievous toddler twins, Edison and Miles, with Naughty List Warning certificates—a gentle reminder to mind their manners during this festive season. Much to their delight, both were gladdened to find themselves on the Nice List when we checked the official online Naughty and Nice List later in the day.
As the evening unfolded, we engaged in a series of themed activities. We laughed our way few several “naughty” Christmas-themed jokes. A spirited "Name the Christmas Villain" quiz tested our knowledge, followed by solving our way through a challenging Naughty List Puzzle Book. The highlight was a holiday-themed CSI Escape Room game, where we worked together to recover Santa’s stolen Naughty & Nice Lists. To accompany our games, we mixed up a Naughty & Nice cocktail and indulged in festive “stollen” bites, a nod to traditional German holiday treats that also coincided with the naughty behavior of stealing.
No celebration of the Naughty List would be complete without a playful treat, so we crafted Oreo cookie “lumps of coal” to humorously acknowledge any minor transgressions in addition to the acoal-esque soy sauce glazed meatballs for dinner.
Overall, our day celebrating the Naughty List was filled with laughter, games, and a whimsical exploration of Christmas lore, reminding us all to be a little nicer as the holiday season unfolds.
ACTIVITIES:
Santa's Making a List Puzzle
FOOD & DRINK MENU:
Coal Meatballs
Stollen Bites
INTERESTING READS & CONTEXT:
