Christmas countdown
It's Dec. 18. Have you seen Santa yet?
The Jolly Ol' Elf know whether you've been naughty or nice.
But the only way to make sure he grants your wish is to let him know what's on your mind. There's still plenty of time to mail a letter to the North Pole (word has it that he'll get it in time as long as it's post marked Dec. 23). And he's taking requests at area malls right up until he needs to load up the sleigh on Christmas Eve. He'll also be in downtown Naperville through Friday. Here's a look at when and where you'll find him.
Aurora
• Westfield Fox Valley, Route 59 and Aurora Avenue, Aurora: Visit from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Santa's breaks are 2 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For details, call (630) 851-7200 or visit www.westfield.com/ foxvalley.
Bloomingdale
• Stratford Square Mall, Army Trail Road between Gary Avenue and Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale: Visit Santa from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. For details, visit www.stratfordmall.com or call (630) 351-2800.
Lombard
• Yorktown Center, Butterfield Road and Highland Avenue, Lombard: Visit Santa during mall hours through Christmas Eve. Santa's breaks are from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Visit www.yorktowncenter.com.
Naperville
• The Naperville Park District's Santa House on the Riverwalk, Jackson Avenue at Webster Street, Naperville: Visit Santa Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Photos with Santa will be sold. For details, call (630) 848-5000 or visit www.napervilleparks.org.
Schaumburg
• Woodfield Shopping Center, Golf Road at Route 53, Schaumburg: Visit Santa from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 24. Santa's breaks are from noon to 12:30 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For details, visit www.shopwoodfield.com.
It's Dec. 19. There's still time to mail those Christmas cards
Are those holiday cards still sitting on your desk, half-written and waiting to be licked shut in their envelopes?
Still haven't bothered to make it out to the post office to ship your loved ones living out of town their long-awaited Christmas gifts?
Monday was the busiest mailing day of year. The United States Postal Service estimates that 275 million first-class cards and letters would be mailed that day, three times the typical daily volume of postal traffic.
That means that almost everyone is way ahead of you.
What are you waiting for? Christmas Eve, the last mail day before Christmas, is just a few days away.
In total, about 20 billion -- yes, that's billion with a B --cards, letters and packages will be sent between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve this year alone.
So here's a friendly warning to get to your post office as soon as you can. Santa can't deliver all those goodies himself, you know.
It's Dec. 20. Don't forget the Christmas classics
You probably still have "Frosty Returns" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" clogging up your TiVo. And no one ever needs to see "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians."
Instead of making time to watch those second-rate Christmas TV specials, set aside time to re-read some of your favorite seasonal stories like "The Polar Express" or Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
And, we're sure it's been about a year since you've brushed up on everyone's favorite Christmas bedtime story. This year, for the first time, DuPage County mayors stepped up to help put you to sleep.
Beginning Thursday, you can log on to www.dailyherald.com to see Naperville Mayor George Pradel, Itasca Village President Gigi Gruber and others read "A Visit From St. Nicholas," better known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
It's Dec. 21. You've shopped till you dropped. Consider giving one last gift: your time
Christmas is for giving so there's no better way to celebrate the season than giving of yourself to others. Many organizations are winding up their food and toy drives, but there's still ways to lend a helping hand. DuPage Convalescent Center in Wheaton, for instance, needs volunteers to assist residents to an in-house worship service on Christmas Eve afternoon and to a Christmas morning Mass, and to help with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day parties. Check out www.dupageco.org/givingdupage for more opportunities.
And don't forget your own neighbor or elderly relative who might appreciate a visit and a special treat, a drive to church or a store, or an invitation to a holiday meal.
Giving away the Christmas spirit is one sure way to catch it.
It's Dec. 22. Now's the time to start that gingerbread tradition
Thinking "Home Sweet Home" this holiday season? Don't let Christmas pass without a taste of the sweetest homes of all: those of the gingerbread variety.
Visitors can make their own mini-gingerbread house from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the DuPage County Illinois Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. The program is free with regular museum admission, which costs $3, $2 seniors older than 65, students and children ages 4 to 17, free for kids younger than 3. For details, call (630) 682-7343 or visit www.co.dupage.il.us/museum.
If a confectionery construction project is just a little more than you'd like to take on between shopping trips, no worries. You can still check out what other folks have done in the sweet-yet-spicy medium -- no work required. A gingerbread replica of Kline Creek Farm will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays until Dec. 31 at the farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. While you're there, check out the living history farm's holiday finery during tours offered on the hour. For details, call (630) 876-5900.
It's Dec. 23. Let's wrap it up!
Admit it. You've come home after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and stayed up all night wrapping presents in a game of Beat the Clock.
You've bought all that pretty wire ribbon, but ultimately embraced the stick-on bows because there were so many boxes and so little time.
Then there was the year of the gift bags and tissue paper.
You've still got 48 hours before anyone expects to see any action under the tree.
So set aside today to wrap up that Wii so the present looks as special on the outside as it is on the inside. Why not invite a few friends over, uncork a bottle of wine, turn on the Christmas music radio station and make it a party?
It's Dec. 24. Remember the real reason for the season.
Fans of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" know that Linus said it best when he quoted Luke 2:8-14.
It started with Charlie Brown exclaiming, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
Linus steps up to say, "Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
"Lights, please.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
It's Dec. 25. Enjoy your time with family, friends
Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house you go… oh, stop it with the groaning.
Relatives may drive you relatively crazy now and then, but they're your family. Admit it: You love every last one of them. Yes, even weird Uncle Dave and his seemingly never-ending vacation slide shows. It's tradition, right?
If you're near, get together. Share a meal. Exchange gifts. Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" or even a "Law and Order" cable marathon.
If your loved ones are in the military or live in a far away place, that doesn't mean you're alone. Make a phone call, write an e-mail or send a letter.
What you do to celebrate the day isn't nearly as important as just being together -- even if that togetherness is only in spirit.
• Daily Herald staff writers Melynda Findlay, Susan Dibble, Anne Halston, Jack Komperda and Justin Kmitch contributed to this report.