Why Santa Claus Sneezed on Christmas
A humorous poem about Santa sneezing due to a child’s holiday complaint.
Updated November 25, 2025, by Catherine Pulsifer
A funny poem about Santa Claus that will bring a smile to your face. Both children and adults will enjoy this playful story as it captures the light hearted side of Christmas. It is the kind of poem that reminds us not to take the season too seriously and to enjoy the simple moments that make us laugh. Whether you read it together as a family or share it with friends, this poem adds a bit of cheer to the holidays and helps everyone feel the joy that Christmas brings.
Why Santa Claus Sneezed on Christmas
Poet Unknown
Ah-ketch-u! ah-ketch-u!! ah-ketch-u!!!
Right out of the chimney he flew,
With the speed of a comet, the whiz of a rocket,
Coat up to his ears, hands stuffed in his pocket,
His nose in a pucker, his teeth in a chatter,
"Dear Santa," said I, "why what is the matter?
You look very much as if you were freezing;
And, of all things, what under the sun set you sneezing?
Is it possible, you, the dear old Saint Nicholas,
Have been catching cold? How supremely ridiculous!"
He stopped when he heard me, this jolly old fellow.
With his heart like, a peach, so tender and mellow.
"I am chilled to the marrow," he cried, with a shiver,
His eyes growing misty, his chin in a quiver.
"Did you see the tall chimney from which I came flying?
In the room right below it a small boy sat crying
And sobbing and scolding because -oh how shocking! -
He found only ten presents crammed in his stocking,
While his wee baby sister had eleven. Why, his weeping
Made the chimney so damp, the cold chills kept creeping
From my neck to my toe-tips. So then, with a whew!
I shot out of that chimney - ah-ketch-u! ah-ketch-u!!
"I have travelled all over the far arctic regions.
Have been among Esquimaux. Danes and Norwegians;
But that's the first child, on mainland or isthmus.
That has made me, old Santa Claus, sneeze on a Christmas."
Summary of The Poem:
The poem, Why Santa Claus Sneezed on Christmas, humorously imagines Santa Claus catching a cold after visiting a child's house.
The poem starts with Santa sneezing loudly as he exits a chimney. The narrator, concerned, asks Santa if he is cold and if he has caught a cold.
Santa explains that he is chilled because of a child who was upset over receiving fewer presents than his baby sister.
The boy's crying and complaining made the chimney damp, causing Santa to catch a chill and sneeze. Santa shares that he's traveled through
freezing regions before, but this is the first time a child has made him sneeze.
Meaning of The Poem:
The poem plays with the idea of Santa Claus being vulnerable to something as human as a cold, despite his magical and jolly persona.
The underlying humor comes from the exaggerated cause of Santa's sneeze—a child's selfish complaint about receiving fewer presents.
The poem light-heartedly points out how even Santa, who is usually unfazed, can be "touched" by the actions and emotions of children,
even if those emotions are unreasonable.
It also highlights the importance of perspective, as Santa's long travels through cold regions didn't affect him,
but a child's minor complaint did. This poem combines whimsy with a playful commentary on how small grievances can sometimes have disproportionate effects.
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Conclusion
As we smile at Santa’s loud sneeze and the child who set it off, we are reminded that Christmas is filled with moments that lighten our hearts. This playful poem shows how even small attitudes can shape the joy around us. May it encourage us to choose gratitude, to laugh freely, and to share kindness with others. In the busy days of the season, let this story lift your spirit and remind you that joy often grows from the simplest moments.
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