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Secret Santa hands out $100 bills

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A Secret Santa has been handing out holiday cheer in the form of $100 bills in Missouri and Kansas with the help of some city officials, those officials said.

The Santa -- who took over for 27-year Secret Santa veteran Larry Stewart, who hand-picked his replacement before his death in 2007 -- has been handing out the cash at thrift stores and other locations in Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., with the help of Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James and Joe Reardon, mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County in Kansas, the Kansas City (Mo.) Star reported Wednesday.

"This is the first time I've done it with the mayor of anything," said Santa, who is marking his fifth year on the job.

Reardon said he was elated to help Santa pass out the $100 bills.

"That was pretty amazing," Reardon said after handing a bill to a woman outside of a thrift store. "I've never experienced anything quite like that."

James expressed a similar sentiment.

"This is about as cool as it gets," he said. "This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

Santa delivers trees with sandwiches

BALTIMORE, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A Baltimore man said he found success with his business, delivering Christmas trees with pulled pork sandwiches while dressed as Santa Claus.

Jason Toraldo, 29, said he will make his last Pork N' Pine delivery of the season before Saturday, bringing his total for the year to about 20, The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday.

Toraldo said he came up with the idea for Pork N' Pine when he was unable to secure a location for a tree lot and he gained further inspiration from his father's dream of opening up a sandwich shop.

Toraldo said he charges $45 for the service, which includes chopping down the tree and delivering it via bicycle while dressed as Santa Claus with two friends in elf garb assisting. He said he plays Christmas music from a boom box during the deliveries and performs a few dance moves while handing over a white pine and pulled pork sandwich.

"People just aren't expecting Santa Claus on a bike, to show up with a boombox playing Christmas tunes, with a Christmas tree on the back and a pulled-pork sandwich in his hand," Toraldo said. "This is my first season, so I'm still trying to work out the kinks. But people seem to be enjoying the experience."

Survey: Britons feel 'Christmas-y' Dec. 15

LONDON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A British survey suggests most people in the country officially begin to feel "Christmas-y" when Dec. 15 rolls around.

Transport group National Express said its survey of 2,000 Britons, conducted Nov. 17-28, found Dec. 15 was the average date most respondents began to get into the holiday spirit.

The company said respondents picked putting up decorations, wrapping gifts and hearing seasonal music as the activities that most put them into the Christmas frame of mind. Respondents also cited attending their office Christmas parties, which often take place Dec. 16, as helping them feel "Christmas-y."

"While it seems like Christmas arrives earlier each year our results show that today is actually when Britain gets the 'Christmas-y' feeling. By this point most of us have bought our presents, put the decorations up and have eaten our first mince pie," said Carly O'Donnell of the National Express.

National Express is offering anyone who takes a bus trip during the month of December a 50 percent discount on tickets for their first bus trip in 2012.

Brit men say they could improve Christmas

LONDON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A meat company's survey suggests about 40 percent of British men think they would do a better job than their partners at being in charge of Christmas.

The survey of 2,000 men, commissioned by Red Tractor Beef and Lamb and conducted Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, found many respondents said their partners were in charge of Christmas festivities, but two out of five of those polled said the season would be less expensive and more relaxing if they were given the reins.

The survey, part of Red Tractor's "A Father's Christmas" campaign, suggests one in five men would be willing to take over kitchen duties for Christmas -- with 20 percent of those opting to order food -- and 15 percent would keep their families home instead of visiting extended family for the holiday.

"It interesting to see that so many men are keen to take on the challenge of Christmas and have their say on festive celebrations," said Red Tractor's Jane Ritchie-Smith. "As the majority of men tend to watch from the side-lines at Christmas, it is positive news that a large number want to do things their way."

The poll had a plus or minus 5 percentage-point margin of error.