What if that is where the coal comes from? Every year he dies and goes to hell, but he sold his soul to the Devil so he could come back every year, and when he does he judges people again and the naughty ones get the coal he brought back from hell, and his elves are really just the ones the Devil chooses out of his demon workers, but only if they make good toys, and the defect toy makers get sent back to the bottom of hell after Christmas, the "Good" ones stay. think about that logic for a few minutes...