Editor’s note: This month, the Cool Word Club will focus on the holidays with some oh-so-festive words!

For more than 100 years, the US Post Office has answered children’s letters that are addressed to Santa. In 1912, the Postal Service officially launched the much beloved program known as Letters to Santa. It grew so large that the public, charitable organizations and community groups were enlisted to also help respond to the young letter writers.

As the program expanded, many Post Offices allowed schools, charities and private citizens to “adopt” individual letters and fulfill the child’s request for gifts. The largest such program is located in New York City, where more than a half million letters to Santa are received from children each year.

Of course, all this happens before Christmas eve. That’s when Santa proceeds with alacrity (see definition) in order to complete the enormous task of delivering all his Christmas presents. Talk about a big job!

If you’d like to keep track of Santa’s travels on Christmas eve, check www.noradsanta.org.

Speak your mind: Do you have any tasks that you complete with alacrity?

ALACRITY: With readiness, willingness and promptness.