If you were dreaming of a white Christmas, you were out of luck.

There was no snow in sight, thanks to an El Niño weather pattern that just might last until spring.Some meteorologists are calling it a once-in-a-lifetime event.Spring flowers are blooming, mosquitoes are abundant and some local residents had to mow their lawns before decorating for the holiday.The mercury soared to July temperatures on Christmas Day and it seemed nobody was sure how to handle "Christmas in Summertime."Truth be told, it wasn't only an unusually mild air for the holiday, it was the warmest winter holiday ever recorded.Who ever heard of a 70-degree Christmas?It set records by a long shot."I understand it's warmer here than it is out west," said Allison May on Friday while visiting Tamaqua from Arizona."It's just so warm," said Sherry Carter of Tamaqua, spending the day outdoors with husband John, son Joshua and his wife Mary, along with granddaughter Evelyn."I never in my life heard of a Christmas heat wave," said a Rowe Street resident.It was a day more suited for swimming and fishing, but Christmas in the region went off as planned.Santa wasn't to be denied.The elves at the North Pole workshop had finished all of the toy orders, and it was time for delivery.And so Santa ditched his sleigh and traveled to the Times News coverage area riding a Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle.Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived early Friday and drove around Tamaqua and other locations entertaining wide-eyed children. Adding to the delight was an appearance by Nudge, the reindog, who rode sidecar while wearing fabric-filled antlers.Santa's appearance was made possible courtesy of Tom and Lori Rossochacy of Hometown.