The X-mas Files: Dear Santa Letters

This episode explores letters to Santa Claus. Historian and folklorist Ceri Houlbrook traces the origins of these letters back to the 19th century, showing how they offer tiny time capsules into children’s lives, from their changing toy preferences to the ways they expressed good behaviour. Houlbrook shares examples of letters discovered tucked into chimney breasts, revealing the playful, sweet, and sometimes mischievous ways kids communicated with Father Christmas. Writer Alex Palmer dives into the story of John Gluck and the Santa Claus Association in early 20th-century New York, examining how the postal service, newspapers, and charitable initiatives shaped the practice of answering children’s letters. Together, the conversation reveals how social and economic shifts, the rise of commercial Christmas culture, and print media helped letters to Santa become a widespread and enduring tradition.