The newest fashion craze to hit the stores this holiday season comes from the home of year-round winter fashion, the North Pole.

Anna Claus, wife of Santa Claus, came up with the idea this autumn when she was inspecting Santa's holiday wardrobe.

“Santa has a variety of fancy suits,” explained Mrs. Claus. “I've designed most of the styles and patterns myself over the years, tailoring them to his stature and work needs. One day, a friend remarked how stylish they were compared to the latest fashions.” From that afternoon, she was inspired to create several new patterns for both men and women.

One of her friends, the Snow Queen, offered to help her market the new fashion line, named “Clauswear”. The first samples will be on sale in stores around the world in time for Christmas. The attire features seasonally inspired colors in red, green, and gold. Beadwork, embroidery, and faux fur adorn everything from evening dresses to men's suits. Wintry motifs such as snowflakes and holly are splashed across shirts and skirts alike, styled for men and women.

Mrs. Claus says Santa will even be sporting one of her new creations at the big New Year's Eve party in Christmasville.

Frosty the Snowman is taking a break for the winter season from his regular spot on the Frosty Night Show. The show, introduced in April of this year, featured stars ranging from Blitzen to Madonna. Though expected to run only during the summer, the show's popularity has inspired the North Pole Network to keep it running through the winter.

Della Plum, the Sugar Plum Fairy, will be hosting the Friday night show while Frosty makes his annual winter trip to visit friends in Europe and America. “I'm delighted to be helping an old friend,” explained Miss Plum.

Archaeologists made an exciting discovery outside of Rome this month. Dr. Henry Jones, the chief scientist at the dig, explained. “We found evidence of unusual rituals associated with ancient Saturnalia festivities. Our initial analysis suggested that the ritual included specialized baking.”

Researchers had trouble explaining the baking procedure until one of them received a parcel in the mail from a distant relative.

“The package contained a stale Christmas cake. We didn't think anything of it, but one of the interns had the notion to carbon date it, as a joke. Turns out that it was just as old as the site we were studying,” said Dr. Jones.

The evidence suggested a startling connection between the ritual and the cake. Dr. Jones added, “The old joke about how there's really only one cake getting passed from person to person may actually be true. It's incredible to think that this annual forwarding could have been going on for a few thousand years!”

Further analysis of the sample bore strong resemblance to the dreadful gumdrop sponge cake recipe which appears in the United States. UK residents will be happy to know that it bore no resemblance to one of their favorite holiday confections, a delicious quick bread-like Christmas cake full of dried fruits and nuts, often topped with marzipan and thick white icing.

The researchers have no explanation for how the ancient cake ended up in the Americas.

Summer blockbuster highlights the life of a famous elf who saved Christmas.

A new film featuring the famous Santa's Elves Academy will be coming out in the June, just in time to ride the wave of summer blockbusters. Filming finished last month, wrapping up several months of location shooting at the North Pole. Called Elf Training, the film stars Verne Troyer and Heather Graham. Reindeer-turned-superstar Blitzen makes a cameo appearance.

In an interview with Jay Leno, Blitzen explained the basis for the film. “I don't know why everyone got so excited over Harry Potter. That was all about a kid at a fictional school. Santa's Elves Academy is the real McCoy. Of course, you have to be an elf to go there, but they practice real magic - specifically, the art of making all of the toys for Santa's Christmas deliveries.”

The movie follows the progress of a famous elf named Herbert, from the day he started at the Academy, to graduation day, when Santa offered him a coveted position at the Toy Shop. Several of the anecdotes are based on actual events.

Hans Candle, chief of the Elves' Guild, explained. “Several years ago, a bad cold virus incapacitated several of our Toy Shop Elves. Herbert organized the students in his class to take over the work.” Under Herbert's leadership, the students saved Christmas in the nick of time. “Santa was so impressed that he offered Herbert an important position in the Toy Shop. He quickly rose through the ranks to become head of the Shop.”

Troyer, who plays the lead role, had this to say: “It's just nice to play the hero for a change. Herbert was a fantastic role - plenty of depth.”

His co-star, Heather Graham, plays love interest Sparkle, a snowflake-making fairy. “I didn't think the combination would work,” she explained, ”but they turned out to be a charming couple, if a little unusual. It's even better, knowing the film is based on a true story.”