Santa may get all the credit, but who really does all the work when it comes to toy-making? Just think about the enormity of the job of producing those millions of toys he hands out every year.

One thing we can count on—those gifts have to be the product of a lot of cheap labor. All the elves at the North Pole have to be working for little or nothing. Of course, they do get room and board—and from the size of Santa’s belt, Mrs. Claus is evidently a great cook. But what about health insurance and working conditions? Has OSHA approved the safety procedures in the workshop? Does the EPA monitor its air quality? The paint fumes alone must be a significant health hazard.

Then there is the question of long-term security. Does Santa Claus offer a pension plan? Is there a 401(k)?

Perhaps the biggest concern is whether the elves really have other choices. If they don’t like their wages or working conditions, what are they going to do? The North Pole is a one-employer place, so they can’t go across the street and get a different job. Relocating isn’t an option, either—just think of the distance they’d have to go through all that ice and snow in order to get anywhere. A strike might be a possibility—but it’s way too cold up there to walk a picket line. Any rebellious elves would just have to be locked out of the workshop, and the frigid conditions would bring them to their knees in twenty minutes. It’s possible that these poor workers are being exploited in sweatshop conditions.

Oh, they seem happy enough. Any time you see Santa’s elves in movies or books, they are singing while they work, bustling about with apparent joy in what they do. Just remember, appearances can be deceiving.

On the other hand, maybe it’s true that the elves are genuinely happy in their work. If this is the case, it’s probably because a great deal of the labor that goes into Santa’s toys is outsourced. The real labor force behind all those gifts is a vast army of workers all over the world—all volunteers.

These unpaid workers are the ones who brave shopping malls on Saturdays during December. Some of them even get up at dawn to fight their way through crowds of shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving. Others spend hours creating special gifts of wood, fabric, or yarn crafted with love in every stitch or stroke of a paintbrush. Still others stay up half the night on Christmas Eve to assemble dollhouses or bicycles. Then these selfless volunteers wrap the gifts with care—and label them, “From Santa.”

Those generous volunteers are the parents and grandparents who delight in making Christmas a time of joy for the children they love. Many of them find ways to give, as well, to children they don’t even know. This is the real source of Santa’s wealth, the true secret behind his ability to bring joy to so many children in so many places.

Maybe you are one of those countless Santa’s helpers. Maybe your Christmas this year includes the great pleasure of watching small children open gifts from Santa. Maybe your little ones are grown up and have long since graduated to being Santa’s helpers themselves.

Whatever the circumstances, may your Christmas be a joyous one that is focused on family and those you love. As you celebrate this year, please take a moment to help me join Tiny Tim in his heartfelt wish: “God Bless Us, Every One!”