For some people, Christmas can be a wretched, lonely, dispiriting experience. Imagine being crammed into a metal tube, breathing recycled air, eating reconstituted food, little space, no privacy, surrounded on all sides by people you may not like or get on with, other people's body odour and unwashed clothing, no real space to lie down and relax, never knowing where you are or when you're going to arrive, subject to arbitrary and sometimes irrational orders, the constant hum and drone of machinery.

Well, it's your own fault. You could have stayed at home, rather then booking a flight on EasyJet ....

Things are a little better for submarine crews, but not much. At least they're being paid.

However, to cheer them up, they can look forward to a Christmas visit from Sonar Claus. On the 25th of December, a fat, jolly man in a red and white escape/survival suit shins down the periscope mast and brings gifts to all those who have been Good in the previous year. From small gifts of edible treats, to DVDs and audiobooks, right up to supercavitating nuclear-armed homing torpedeoes*, everyone gets something to cheer them up and make the routine of long patrols that little bit more bearable.

*A special oversize stocking may be needed; you don't want it just rolling round the deck, or propped up in a corner.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 23 2018

Does he bring divers gifts?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 23 2018


<Cymbal sting/>
-- 8th of 7, Dec 23 2018


I wonder if Aquaman has been good this year?
-- RayfordSteele, Dec 23 2018


Doubtful. He's been hanging around Mera and abusing his spear.
-- whatrock, Dec 24 2018


This would mean that "elves" is the root word of "delves"... it all makes sense now.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 24 2018


It does ? That means one of two things; you've either had too much to drink, or not enough.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 24 2018


"Delve" comes from the Old English "delfen", whereas "elf" comes from "alp", the German for nightmare.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 24 2018


Oh sure, and next you'll have me believe 'selves' isn't the first person reflexive pronoun used by Scottish Elves.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 24 2018


// Scottish Elves // ... which by coincidence is the English for "nightmare".
-- 8th of 7, Dec 24 2018


...

EFREETDOM!

...wait, that can't be right.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 25 2018



random, halfbakery