MEXICO — Sprinkling Molly Burke’s magical reindeer feed sometimes takes kids up to two hours to search for the best spot on their lawns.

“They want to be sure to pick a good spot for Santa and his reindeer to land,” Molly says knowingly. Parents need to be sure to get outside before dark since it does take some time to find the best spot to sprinkle.

Molly’s reindeer feed is in a cute, partially clear bag with a print of Santa on it and the words, “Ho, Ho, Ho.” Through the bag you can see the magical silver sparkles and the nutritious oatmeal, which will give Santa’s reindeer the magic to fly.

Each bag includes a special note with the instructions to sprinkle just before bedtime. The bag is neatly tied off with a red twist-tie, keeping the feed fresh for the reindeer, while allowing easy access for kids.

“I started making the feed for my nieces and now I’m on my second generation of kids,” said Molly, which includes her nieces’ grandchildren and many children in the community.

She read about making the reindeer feed in a magazine about 15-20 years ago and has done it since then. She uses 3 or 4 tablespoons of oatmeal in each bag, depending on how many bags she’s making, and some silver sprinkles. “Parents call me and kids tell me when they need some reindeer feed,” she explained. “Some call me Aunt Molly.”

“I’ve made 15 to 20 bags for the Dixfield Health Clinic, and it helps the kids calm down after seeing the doctor,” said Molly. And at C.N. Brown, a man said, “Molly, you have to make 15 bags for all the people at C.N. Brown.”

And it’s not just kids that love her reindeer feed, she says, “The adults at C.N. Browns’ faces…you should see their faces!”

“It’s most important to give to kids,” she says. “Kids need to have a tradition, something they can pass on to future generations. And they need to believe in Santa, they really do.”

When she was a child, her aunt sent her an Advent calendar, which was a special tradition for her. Sometimes Molly even encourages fathers to create marks on the lawn to represent Santa’s sleigh marks, but sadly, she says, “not many want to do it.”

Since she has no children of her own, Molly says this is her enjoyment at Christmas. “It’s just my way of doing stuff and as long as I’m still alive and moving I will continue doing it.”

Molly talks about how the little kids next door love her Christmas tree. “They come see it and when they wait for the bus they blow kisses to me.”

Molly’s thinking about other places she may want to give out her reindeer feed, “I’m thinking about going to the library to see if they might like some for the kids.”

“Do you have anyone you’d like to give some to?” she asks twice before she leaves. “Call me and I’ll bring you some.”