When December hits each year it means Christmas and Hanukkah are upon us. Celebrate this year with the Internet.

If you visit just one Christmas site this year with your kids, it should be Claus.Com. This non-religious, family fun site brings you a whole Christmas village of activities.

Check Mrs. Claus's Kitchen for some festive recipes like 'Twas the Night Before Bread Pudding or a Santa Shake.

Visit Santa's House to find out how the traditions of the Christmas tree, the yule log, mistletoe, stockings and more got started. While you're there, relax and view Santa's slide show and see how things are going at the North Pole.

Want to make sure you are on the right track this year? Check Santa's Naughty or Nice List. Enter in your name and see what Santa thinks about your performance this year. There are also top-ten tips to improve your "nice" score and ten ways to avoid the "naughty" list.

In the Toy Workshop you can adopt one of eight elves. Select the elf you want and view his or her role in the workshop and a bit about his or her life. You can print out a large color picture of your adopted elf or a black and white drawing to color for yourself.

Also in the Toy Workshop is the "Magnetic Kinetic Toy Hulla-Ballu," or, commonly known as Santa's toy machine. This highly animated machine will entertain the kids and serves a purpose. According to its creator, the Hulla-Ballu will "add 50% more of Santa's magic fun dust to every toy"...and just in time for the 1997 Christmas season.

If you have a fast connection or are willing to wait, you can sing along one of three holiday Karaoke songs with the animated elf band and the "Rolling Snowballs" (never to be confused with the "Rolling Stones").

For some fun and games, try your hand at one of the weekly-changing games at the Elf School. You can earn an Honorary Elf Diploma for each game you play. More fun than getting frostbite while building a snowman (or snowwoman).

If you want to make sure you don't miss Christmas this year (as if that was ever a problem) check the Santa's December 1997 calendar each day. This advent calendar makes the countdown just a little more fun.

When it hits the 24th of December, make sure you watch the play-by-play action at the Santa Tracker. See where he is delivering toys at that very moment.. This "live" radar scanner keeps track of his sleigh.

Of course, what Santa site would be complete without writing to Santa? You can send a letter with your return e-mail address and get a reply from "The Big Guy" himself. Don't forget to slap on a pretty stamp from the selection provided.

Other sites that should not be missed are Christmas in Cyberspace, "the oldest Christmas site on the Net" and Home Page for the Holidays. Both have plenty for the youngsters to do and see.

If you like caroling, I have a page that you will love. The Carols of Christmas page has "the words to more than 600 Christmas songs and traditional carols." Many of the songs have music and some have the Osmond family singing the tunes.

Finally, If you would rather be spinning a Virtual Dreidel and lighting your meorah, you can visit the Jewish Communication Network's (JCN) Hanukkah site. Learn all about the reason for the Jewish holiday and how to celebrate the "Festival of Lights."

So if you celebrate, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.