Letters to Santa

Gracie Smith
MSMU Class of 2027

(12/2023) The tradition of writing letters to Santa has been around for generations; however, it wasn’t always children doing the writing. The practice began quite contrary to what we are accustomed to today. It first began with Santa writing letters to children to encourage them to behave throughout the year. In return for the good behavior, Santa would reward them with gifts on Christmas day. Not only did this establish the idea of the infamous naughty and nice list, but it began a tradition that would be carried out for centuries. Over time, children began writing letters back to Santa describing what they wanted for Christmas as a reward for their good behavior, being the little negotiators they are. With this lovely letter conversing, the tradition was born—Letters to Santa.

Children throughout the years have written, asking for many things. From the latest Barbie doll to the coolest Lego set, children have never failed to demand their rewards for good behavior. Nevertheless, children are not the only ones to write to Santa. Teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors also write to Kris Kringle. While this may come off as immature, the idea of expressing what it is you most desire creates the sweetest and most delicate sense of hope. The opportunity to ask for something that can be either realistic or bazaar excites us, and further allows us to feel an innocent sort of greed. Besides, they say there is a childish part in all of us, right?

I believe it’s essential that every child has the experience of writing to Santa and receiving the gift they wished for, at least once. While there are thousands of children who are less fortunate than me, I yearn that each one of those children still writes to Santa. Every child has something they want deep down. Whether it be an action figure, a puppy, a bike, or something a little deeper such as to maintain good health, a roof over their head, or simply someone to listen to them. Every child deserves to be heard and every child deserves to experience the same sweet and delicate hope that we feel when we write to Santa.

One thing that I loved seeing as a kid was all the mailboxes dedicated specifically to Santa. As strange as this is, it’s socially acceptable because it’s Santa. My favorite mailbox to Santa is the one in Macy’s in New York City. The way it is displayed like it's the Holy Grail of the store made it more magical, dropping my letter into the box. Though, I was always nervous to put my letter in because part of me felt like I was being too greedy asking for all those things. Every year I told myself the same lie to justify my asking for so much stuff: It’s so Santa has options. To this day I am guilty of using this weak line of justification to defend my long list of demands. However, at least I know that Santa does indeed have options.

I remember my little brother and I spending an entire evening writing our letters to Santa. We would only use the colors red and green to try to appeal to him, and we would always send our regards to his reindeer for good measure. My brother, being the biggest Mickey Mouse fan to exist, asked for Mickey Mouse sheets for his bed when he was in preschool. I remember that being a very odd thing for him to ask for, given he was 4 years old at the time asking for a semi-adult-ish gift. Nevertheless, he received them and was as happy as could be since he could "sleep with Mickey" every night.

Unlike my brother, I guess I never really "matured" in what I would ask for from Santa. Every year I’d still write down the most random items like I was a 5-year-old. My brother, while still asking for Legos and Funko Pops, has always been a bit more rational than I. If I were to write a letter to Santa right now, I would ask for new shoes, books, and a new ring to go with my cross necklace. While the shoes are truly something that I need and should probably invest in myself, the books and the ring just display the childish side of me. In years prior, I have asked for things like American Girl dolls, a typewriter, a Nintendo 3DS (specifically the pink one), and have even been so bold as to ask for a Fender Stratocaster guitar in the luscious light blue. However, as I am growing older, I am finding that I need to ask for necessities, or in other words, things I need but don’t want to pay for. For instance, makeup, hair products, jeans, and SHOES. I do believe this comes with age though; by this I mean, as we grow older, we start to appreciate the little things that we don’t have to pay for, and the real gift is the gift of saving money.

Way back in the early 2010s, Sears would do Christmas photo shoots, and my mom was all over it. Each year we would go for our Christmas portraits, and when we were done, we got to visit Santa in the mall to give him our letters. It’s upsetting that little traditions like that don’t exist anymore since Amazon has put so many companies, like Sears, out of business. Even still, it was how my little brother and I would give our letters to Santa until Sears closed down.

Each year, children all over the world write letters to Santa expressing what it is they want most for Christmas. Not only children, but adults share this tradition too. Christmas is a time to not only be with our family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Lord, but to also be a little selfish and write to Santa sharing our desires.