Every year as the holiday season approaches, children all over the world with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, start drafting their Christmas wish list to send to Santa Claus. The question with all of these letters headed to the North Pole is: where do they actually end up?
Well, the secret is out! There is a Santa Claus and he does receive these letters and wish lists. He will even send a reply for free! We’ve got all of the answers to your questions and specific instructions for your child to send a letter to Santa himself!
Will Santa receive my Christmas wish list?
Yes! If you send a letter to Santa, he receives your letters through the USPS program called Letters From Santa. Through this Santa Program, the fantasy of Santa Claus is kept alive when your child receives a reply from Santa postmarked from Santa Claus, North Pole.
There are a few key steps outlined by USPS to ensure that Santa receives your letter:
Specific steps to send a letter to Santa:
- Have you child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
- Write a personalized response to the child’s letter and sign it From: Santa.
- Insert both letters into an envelope, and address it to the child.
- Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.
- Ensure a First-Class Mail stamp is affixed to the envelope.
- Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope with appropriate postage. Drop it at your local postal office or postal service and address it to:
NORTH POLE POSTMARK
POSTMASTER
4141 POSTMARK DR
ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
When responding as Santa, write on the back of your child’s letter to save paper. This will also help them remember what they wrote. Personalize the response and highlight your child’s accomplishments—academic or athletic wins, or even smaller things like completing chores around the house or being kind to their siblings.
Note: We recommend you send a letter to Santa by December, 7, 2019. If the Anchorage postmaster receives it no later than December, 14, 2019, this will ensure a response.
Where will my letter go if it’s simply addressed to Santa Claus?
Well you’re in luck if your letter to Santa bears only his name! The little town of Santa Claus, Indiana has been receiving wish lists addressed to Santa Claus and responding to them since 1914! These letters arrive from all over the world.
How will I receive a letter back from Santa?
300 volunteer “elves” diligently read and reply to every single letter. Get this…sometimes as many as 2000 letters arrive per day! A non-profit organization, called the Santa’s Elves Corporation, covers the cost of mailing out upwards of 200,000 Santa letters every Christmas season. Although there are around 5-6 printed responses, the thoughtful elves send a letter with the response most suited to the child’s letter. A handwritten note addressing something specific mentioned by the child in their letter will also be included.
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Is there A Deadline For Receiving A Letter From Santa?
All letters will be answered up until December 21st. Even if it means the elves work late into the night! Rest assured that your child will receive a response! The volunteers who travel from locations hours away to respond to these letters are truly a shining example of the holiday spirit and the meaning of giving at Christmas!
Will Santa respond to my Christmas letter via email?
Yep…you bet! Santa is up-to-date on all of the latest technology and has his very own website and online mailroom. Kids can listen to a short audio message from Santa that explains how it works! All he needs is the child’s first name, the parent’s email address, and then you or your child can start typing up a Christmas wish list and send your letter to Santa! Your child will be glowing with delight when they get their very own email response back from Santa and his elves!
Can I help others by writing a letter to Santa?
Macy’s department stores has made it super simple to help those less fortunate with two easy options. Either drop your letter to Santa at your local Macy’s and place it in their big red letterbox or reach Santa online at Macys.com/Believe. For each letter collected in stores and online through Christmas Eve, Macy’s will donate $1 (up to $1 million) to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Make-A-Wish grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
USPS Operation Santa also offers a way to help the less fortunate at holiday time. It is as simple as creating an account and then adopting a letter from a child or a household that speaks to you through the USPS website. Once you’ve chosen your letter to adopt, simply shop for gifts and then pack, label and ship them through a participating post office. You can adopt a letter on your own, or join with co-workers as a team and make wishes come true together!
Letters to Santa and writing wish lists are a long standing tradition that gets little ones excited about the holidays. The best part of all is that it encourages good behavior. Santa knows if you’ve been good or bad so be good for goodness sake!
Jennifer O’Neill is an Independent Quality Provider with BabyQuip, helping families travel lighter and happier. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys working out, spending time with family and friends and of course, traveling.
dear santa clus for christmas iwould like akaroke machine and more jellly belly candy your friend andy
This is the cutest idea.
What if it doesn’t work?
We haven’t heard from anyone that it doesn’t, but please let us know if you have problems!
I love this! I just found a new Xmas tradition. I am going to do this right now with my little ones. Even if they won’t quite remember it this year.
What a fun activity to do with your kiddos!
Can’t wait to do this with my little one when he’s a bit older! Thanks for putting it all together!
This will be a great activity for the little ones.
This is so cute!
So excited to try this with my son this year. He’s three so I think he’ll think it’s fun.
Whats up very cool blog!!
thanks for sharing. . . . . .
It’s an awesome thing when you see the twinkle of Christmas magic in the eyes of a believing child.
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thanks for the info.
I just used babyquip for the first time and loved it so I checked out your blog. I can’t wait to do this with my kids when they get a bit older and can appreciate getting a letter from santa.
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! Have a great day.
I came across this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out a lot
I did this with my youngest son. He was so excited when he got a letter back.
Oh shoot!! We missed the deadline for a response!
What great ideas! Using this!