For example, you notice that at this time of year, the fellow with the red suit and white beard is everywhere. He’s on the TV and on your tree, on wrapping paper and in newspapers, at the malls and stores, in parades and even at the zoo.

Also when you have a small child, you realize that it is possible for some people to ask an infinite number of questions.

I had a few about Santa, and figured I’d get my answers directly from the source.

So I went to the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, the Burlington Mall, and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, ready to talk to Santa and armed with important questions, like “How do you explain the fact that everywhere I go, I see you?’’

All three told me that with all of the millions of children in the world, there is Santa and there are Santa’s helpers, who meet with children and — and I’m paraphrasing here — take their orders. Each said or implied that he was the real Santa, which to me only deepened the mystery.

The answers of the three Santas were sometimes different, but as a whole they remained on point, with similar messages. Kids don’t wake up because of magic, they told me, none of the toy-making is outsourced, and no child is so naughty that he or she won’t receive a toy. They were so consistent with their answers, it was as if Santa had hired Bill Belichick as a life coach.

Here are the other things I learned:

Do the elves have 401(k) s? Do they have health care?

Stone Zoo Santa: There’s lots of benefits to being an elf. They have health care, dental care, a 401(k), lots of snow, lots of cheerfulness. You know, good things.’’

Are you the toy-making supervisor during the year? Liberty Tree Santa: “I’m trying to get more and more hands off.’’

Have you ever had a situation where you’re downstairs laying out the toys and somebody has woken up and come downstairs?

Stone Zoo Santa: “Well, that has happened once or twice, but it’s kind of like Big Foot: The sightings happen but no one quite gets the picture.’’

How long have you and Mrs. Claus been married?

Burlington Santa: “We’ve been married for centuries.’’

(Note to readers: Feel free to insert your own punch line here.)

For a snack, milk or whiskey?

Burlington Santa: “Milk definitely, but I tell the children just half a glass . . . and actually I prefer skim milk now.’’

Lots of chimneys, one night, a big world, and one man. How do you do it?

Stone Zoo Santa: “Triathlons, all the time up at the North Pole. . . . We’ve got it down to a science: in and out, drop the toys, eat the cookies, go.’’

Somehow you manage to land so quietly on the roof that nobody hears you. How do you explain that?

Liberty Tree Santa: “It’s just so fast. It’s not that they couldn’t hear me. If we were to slow time down, they could probably hear me.’’

That whole “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’’ thing, what’s the deal with that?

Stone Zoo Santa: “I’ll take the Fifth on that.’’

When you’re flying, do you see anything interesting?

Burlington Santa: “Oh, you’d be surprised what Santa sees. (Laughing) Even though it’s dark.’’

After Christmas, what do you do?

Stone Zoo Santa: “December 26, the Caribbean. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ on steel drums.’’

David Rattigan is a Globe correspondent.