Transmedia: Storytelling for the Digital Age

On the 24th of December every year children around the world put out milk and cookies in the hopes of luring a magic fat man into their home who will leave presents behind before sneaking into the house next door.  How did such an odd tradition begin?

ATLANTA — There is one hot item this holiday season that won't be resting under the Christmas tree. It will be on a shelf – watching you.

Santa already is piling up big numbers on social networking sites this season, so the volunteer Santa-trackers at NORAD are bracing for tens of thousands of calls and emails when their operations center goes live on Christmas Eve.

Reading holiday themed storybook apps, just like their print counterparts, can be a wonderful tradition.

Kids can video chat with Santa, follow him on Twitter or enlist NORAD to track his every move online. And yet in many ways, technology may be making it harder for parents to keep their children believing in the jolly old elf.

You know Dasher and Dancer and the rest of the gang. But do you recall, the most "Perfect Christmas Crowd-Bringer" of all?

What travels at 10 million miles per hour to 900 million destinations – in one night?

An everyday location. A sudden burst of inappropriate activity. Bemused spectators pointing and capturing the scene on their cellphones. Some of those same bemused spectators turning into performers. You know the drill.