Holidays Never End in Santa Claus, Indiana

June 15, 2012

The post office in Santa Claus, Indiana, where Christmas carols are heard 12 months a year at the town hall. (santaclausind.org)

It’s June, it’s either warm or downright hot in the American Midwest, and in case you haven’t noticed, Christmas is about six months away.

But the holiday spirit abounds every day of the year in Santa Claus, Indiana, a town of 2,000 people, one traffic light and a lot of holiday lights and tinsel.

Holidays Never End in Santa Claus, Indiana

It’s the summer home, sort of, of Saint Nicholas, the holiday’s iconic patron. It’s not just a one-stop gift shop and post office that stamps souvenir postmarks in places such as North Pole, Alaska.

Santa Claus, Indiana, is a complete town, with a Santa Claus police department, Santa Claus High School, Santa Claus trash trucks, and three nice lakes: Lake Holly, Christmas Lake, and Lake Noel.

A carillon at the town hall plays Christmas carols 12 months a year, and a lot of people leave their Christmas decorations up at home all year, too.

Yes, there is a Santa Claus...in Indiana. (p.m. graham, Flickr Creative Commons)

Mostly inside, since the heavy rain in thunderstorms this time of year tends to knock down the outdoor displays.

Imagine walking through your front door day after day, year after year, and passing a Christmas tree, a model train, and maybe cookies for Santa’s elves. People do it all the time in Santa Claus, Indiana.