Every year, children and grown-ups from all around the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. A collection of these letters is kept in the Santa Claus’ Archives, which is a part of the Oulu branch of the National Archives of Finland. In addition to Finland, the most letters come from the UK, Japan, Italy, France, Lithuania and Poland.
We are glad to publish a selection of the letters written by British children, starting from the year 1997. In their letters, children tell of their lives, their country and their wishes, and ask of Santa, his elves and reindeers. The letters tell not only of the Christmas presents wished from Santa, but of the spectrum of other wishes, hopes and dreams.
Read more about the Santa’s archives: The National Archives of Finland
1. In his lovely letter, Ben is wondering how Santa will get into his home.
2. This letter focuses on the most important. Little Abby has realised that the most efficient way to tell about her wishes are pictures of the desired toys.
3. Tommy has found out that for some reason, not all people believe in Santa. Luckily, he is surrounded by right-minded people.
4. Erica is wondering, what to leave out when Santa comes. Sherry or carrots for the reindeer?
5. Hollie has written Santa a very polite letter, and she hopes that the reindeer know how to behave as well. Among her wishes are a “Shopping sun” and a “Magical dream house”.
6. Richard has drawn Santa a beautiful glittery Christmas tree.
7. Little Hannah “sometimes” does as she is told, and one of her favourite things is splashing water on Daddy.
8. This child has helped Santa by calculating the exact prices of their wishes.
9. Brian is being very honest here – “I did be a little lazy, cheeky and noty”.
10. David has been trying hard to be a good boy, but acknowledges the fact that it is up to Santa to decide if he deserves gifts.
11. This child has drawn Santa a very beautiful picture. Will Santa find her a “Ma Ma Da Da” baby?
12. Rebecca focuses on her wishes and has made Santa helpful illustrations of the desired gifts.
13. Amanda is clearly a Spice Girls fan!
14. This is probably the first letter that little Alex has written himself to Santa.
15. Nicola has written Santa a sweet poem – although it shows some bitterness towards the other reindeer.
If you find the text in the image hard to read, please read it below the photo.
“Dear
SANTA
My name is Nicola
Iam hoping for Christmas to get all the little stocking fillers
but for my big present I would like dream phone the board game
I would all so like a Labrador it would be a very nice
But my Mum said I wont walk it and she will end up walking it in the
rain but I always walk my friends Labradors in the rain.
On Christmas eve my family and I are going to Bluebeckers and
on Christmas day we are going to my Mums boyfriends house and we will have his kids to
play with then on boxing day we are going to my Aunty and Uncles to see my Cousins
and other Aunty and Uncles.
we are going to get lots of thank yous because I have got lots of presents for other people
and I can’t wait to give them to them.
Please reply
POEM FOR SANTER AND reineers
SANTA AND RUDOLF WERE ON THERE WAY TO DELIVER SOME
PRESENTS ALL THE OTHER REINEERS HAD NOT WRAPPED THE PRESENTS
SANTA GOT VERY CROSS
AND HAD TO DO TWO ROUND’S
HE REALLY MADE RUDOLF WORK HARD
THEY WERE DROPPING TO THE FLOOR WHEN THEY GOT BACK.-
BY NICOLA
SANTA PLEASE MAKE AL MY WISHES COME TRUE.”
16. Joe has been a hard-core Arsenal fan since he was 5!
17. This child asks Santa to make a world a better place. If only Santa could make all wishes come true…
18. This child does not waste her time on small talk.
19. Stefan has a long list of wishes, which reflect gift trends from about 20 years ago. Do any of the items he is asking for sound familiar to you?
20. Tottenham kit and Tekken 2 were Kyle’s wishes in 1997. We hope that Santa was not too tired and cold to bring them to him!
21. I wonder how Santa managed to wrap the chocolate cake Bayram wished for.
22. Louise Claire’s letter is easy to relate to – haven’t we all been sometimes good, sometimes bad?
23. With this instructive picture, Tommy wants to make sure that Santa will find his house.
24. Santa is on his way! In Finland, Santa pays personal visits to children’s homes on December 24.
25. Christopher’s questions to Santa reflect the thoughts of many children who have been visited by Santa. The third one is truly a mystery.
