Tis the season to be as merry as we can manage. It’s fair to say that political and cultural events in 2023 have left us with something of a glee shortage. The latest polls say good will to men is not trending upward.

And even Santa Claus is affected by the news, although his approval rating remains at historic highs among the younger demographic and their grown-up allies. Here’s a look back at headlines you may have missed regarding his legendary operation in the far north:

Blitzen bio causes a rift

A blockbuster memoir by Blitzen the high-flying reindeer has caused hurt feelings among his fellow Christmas Eve aerialists. Most observers felt “I Fly With Santa” casts Rudolph in an unfavorable light. “The media attention seemed to change him,” wrote Blitzen. “And reports that we used to laugh and call him names are misleading and exaggerated.” The tell-all also claimed that Comet is bossy and no one wants to fly behind Cupid, who is gassy.

Elf selfies alarm higher-ups

Several workers at Santa’s workshop have gained high profiles as social influencers, causing tensions in their fantastical factory. Jingle, Jangle and Twinkles each have more than a million followers on TikTok. Elf Selfies — called Elfies by fans — are a major hit. Sources familiar with the thinking of Ol’ Saint Nick say he is uneasy with anything that diverts attention from his annual headline event. Meanwhile, the Elf Handbook bans side gigs that aren’t kid-friendly. “No reality shows, no cleavage,” it says.

They watch you 24/7

Calls for transparency about Santa Claus’ privacy policies and practices are growing, especially in the European Union, where companies like Facebook and Google are under pressure to shield consumer information. Said one EU official, “The claim that ‘he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake’ raises lots of red flags.”

Mrs. Claus steps back from the limelight

The first lady of the North Pole has declared she needs space to be herself, according to several members of Mrs. Claus’ circle of confidantes. Long in a supporting role in holiday affairs, she has stepped back this year from many official duties. Mrs. Claus has refused interview requests, sparking intense speculation about the state of her marriage. Meanwhile, her advisers have gone into damage control. “They are deeply in love,” said spokeswoman Candi Frost. “She’s totally comfortable with her husband’s extensive unaccompanied travels. She just feels there’s more to life than reindeers and elves.”

Should you tip Santa? Experts say money is optional, fruitcake forbidden

Yes, the tipping tsunami — where gratuities are expected for entirely average service in places where they don’t actually wait on you — has reached the North Pole. Experts say carrots and cookies don’t really cut it anymore, and fruitcake or extremely hot peppers should never be left out for the beloved Christmas delivery man. “Santa has a lot of overhead,” said one analyst. “He’s generous to a fault, and that’s catching up with him. Magic doesn’t pay the bills.”

Santa denies AI is answering North Pole letters

Speculation that the North Pole is using a custom version of AI to handle the tremendous volumes of letters and memos from children around the world is being rebuffed by official sources in the snowy north. “We have approximately 1,000 elf scribes on the job and Santa is committed to keeping all of them employed,” said Chief Operations Officer Joy Tidings. Change comes slowly at the North Pole. The elves’ union contract, for example, calls for a 100-year notice for layoffs.

Good boys and girls want more loot

A class-action lawsuit representing the “Good Boys and Girls of the World” has been filed against the Santa Claus Organization, alleging a drop in standards leaves little difference in the volume of presents for good children and those who formerly received coal. “We accept that carbon-laden coal should be off the table, but our analysis shows that good boys and girls and bad ones are getting pretty much the same amount of gifts,” said a spokesman for the Texas law firm Grubb and Marley. Said plaintiff Tommy, age 6, “I’ve been good all year. I think that speaks for itself.”

Oh, well, it’s a changing world. As for me, a longtime Santa observer, I have been visited of late by the ghosts of Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. Seasonal jingles ring-a-ling-ding in my brain, whether welcome or not. If there is a war on Christmas, it’s holding its own.

That said, I wish for happy holidays for all — Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa. And maybe others I don’t know about. The older I get, the more I see a bigger picture. I say the more, the merrier.

Dan Mackie lives in West Lebanon. He can be reached at dan.mackie@yahoo.com.