Why Kids Should Write Letters to Santa

By Rebecca Eckler

Last year, two weeks before Christmas, I contemplated a career change thanks to Santa. I’ve always thought mail carriers (for the most part) had a pretty good job. They get to be outside all day and get exercise, and I’m sure they don’t go to sleep worrying whether they forgot any deadlines, like I do.

We received a note from Santa, thanks to Canada Post. My daughter was thrilled. She had written to Santa a couple weeks prior, asking him for some toys and asking if he ever gets tired. When we sent it off to Santa’s address (Santa Clause, North Pole, HOH OHO), the cynic in me believed we would get some sort of form letter back, which wouldn’t answer my daughter’s very personal question of whether he gets tired or not. (Or maybe all kids ask this?) The letter we received, however, was handwritten in very bubbly letters, as if a teenager had written it. It was written in purple marker too. I was super impressed and so was my daughter when we read the line: “I don’t get tired because I have a ton of elves helping me out.” That’s when I decided that I wanted to be one of those people who wrote back to kids on behalf of Santa.

So I did some research. And, unfortunately, I would not only need to be a Canada Post employee to get this gig, I’d most likely have to be a Canada Post retiree. And it’s not like they’re looking for people either. More than 11,000 current and retired Canada Post employees (called “Postal Elves” at this time of year) make sure that every child who writes to the above address gets an answer in the language in which the letter was written (including Braille).

I love the idea of writing to Santa, because quite frankly, when else do your children write letters? In fact, when was the last time you wrote a letter by hand? Exactly. These days, you can also send off an e-mail to Santa, which, considering he lives so far away, and it’s much easier to just type in your name, age, and click on “have you been good?” is a good option. But I still love the idea of sending Santa a handwritten letter and getting a personalized handwritten letter back. It’s like Santa really, really does care about children.

I’m not sure how I’m going to get this gig, but one year, I will. I just need an in with Canada Post. Or better yet, Santa himself!

Do your children write to Santa? What’s the best response you’ve gotten, or the craziest question your child has asked the man? (In fact, I think I’ll write to Santa this year too, asking him how I can get the job!).