The cherished tradition of writing to Santa Claus is in full swing, with Royal Mail's dedicated team of 'elves' working hard to ensure the magic of Christmas reaches children across the UK. The postal service has announced that children have until Wednesday, December 10, to send their letters if they wish to receive a reply from Father Christmas himself before the big day.
The Festive Operation at Royal Mail
For over two months leading up to Christmas, staff at Royal Mail don their elf hats to manage the hundreds of thousands of letters that arrive for the Christmas saint. The operation, which has been running for more than 60 years, is based at Royal Mail's Tallents House in Edinburgh. Here, every heartfelt wishlist and note is gathered, opened, and prepared for its onward journey to Santa's magical grotto in Reindeerland, North Pole.
Mark Dawson, a Royal Mail employee of over a decade who has served as an elf for the past five years, describes the process with evident joy. "We get all the letters from all the kids all over the country, and we gather them all up, we open them up, and we prepare them and send them off to Santa Claus," he said. He emphasised that the programme is "all part of the magic of Christmas", recalling the childhood excitement of writing letters and the extra sparkle of receiving a reply.
How to Ensure Santa Writes Back
For a child to receive their personalised letter from Santa, parents and guardians must ensure a few simple steps are followed. Every letter must include the child's full name, address, and postcode, and crucially, must bear a stamp. Letters should be addressed to: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa's Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.
This year, the service is becoming more inclusive than ever. For the first time, a British Sign Language (BSL) version of Santa's reply card will be available. Braille versions are also offered upon request. Both can be arranged by emailing santamail@royalmail.com.
Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive
The team behind the initiative speaks passionately about its role in sustaining childhood wonder. Victoria McDonald, another elf with five years at Royal Mail, said the programme is "part of what makes Christmas magic for the kids." Overseeing the entire operation is Lisa Luveniyali, Royal Mail’s chief elf, who ensures the safe delivery of wishes to the North Pole.
"Royal Mail continues to play a cherished role in the nation’s Christmas traditions," Luveniyali stated. "For over 60 years, we’ve proudly helped Santa manage the thousands of heartfelt letters sent by children across the UK. Our dedicated team of festive elves especially love seeing the wonderful wishes children share—and helping Santa send his replies."
She reiterated the simple instructions for participation, reminding families to include a stamp and full address so Santa knows where to send his response. With the December 10 deadline fast approaching, the elves are ready to process the final rush of festive mail, keeping the enchanting promise of a letter from Santa alive for another generation.
