How to Address a Santa Letter

Santa's Sleigh

Addressing a letter to Santa is a very simple task. You may get a letter back, or you may not, depending on the volume of letters received and the urgency of the other letters, but someone at the North Pole will read your note and pass along your message to Santa. Children have been mailing letters to Santa for more than 100 years, and many have received responses.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Envelope
• Stamp

Instructions

1. Santa letters can contain lists of gifts you hope to receive or warm wishes for Santa and Mrs. Claus for the holiday season. They can include special directions for climbing down your chimney or how to avoid waking up your parents. Be polite in your letter, and do not make unreasonable requests. When sending Santa your present wish list, only write down a few gifts, and make sure they are not too expensive.

2. Bring it to mom or dad to look at. Sometimes letters need to be changed a little bit to make them more clear. Have an adult look your letter over before sealing it inside the envelope. This will make it easier for Santa to read your letter and will make it more likely that you will get a response.

3. Address the letter. Write your name and address clearly in the top left-hand corner of the envelope. In the middle of the envelope, write "To Santa Claus, North Pole." This will guarantee that your letter will reach Santa's workshop. Attach a first class stamp.

4. Mail it. Hand your letter to the postman when he comes to deliver the day's mail, or ask your mom or dad to take you to a post office dropbox (there are several of these in every town). Alternately, put your letter in the mailbox and raise the plastic flag on the side of the box to indicate that a letter needs to be retrieved before the day's mail is inserted.

5. Wait patiently. Santa receives many letters every Christmas, and sometimes it takes him a long time to respond. The best way to bide your time before you get a response is to perform good deeds leading up to Christmas.

Tips & Warnings

• Write the return address in your most legible handwriting. If Santa cannot read your name and address, he will not be able to write back.

• Be nice. Santa only writes back to boys and girls who treat others kindly and with respect.

• Watch out for rain. Do not leave your Santa letter sitting in the mailbox all day in bad weather. If it is snowing or raining, wait until just a few minutes before the mailman typically arrives to place your letter in the box.

• You may not receive a response. Santa only has time to write back to a few thousand letters. Depending on when yours is mailed, and how long it takes to arrive at the North Pole, yours may or may not be eligible for a response.

References

• United States Post Office: Letters to Santa Program

Resources

• W. Joseph Campbell of American University on "Is There a Santa Claus?"