Royal Mail's dedicated team of festive 'elves' are hard at work, declaring that children's letters to Santa Claus capture the very 'magic of Christmas'. With the holiday season fast approaching, the postal service is reminding young senders that the deadline to ensure a reply from St Nick himself is Wednesday 10 December.
The Festive Postal Operation
For over six decades, Royal Mail has run its cherished Santa Letters programme. This year, hundreds of thousands of wishlists and notes are expected to arrive at the special sorting operation. A dedicated team of staff don their elf hats for two months to manage the influx, sorting and arranging all correspondence before sending it on to the North Pole.
Mark Dawson, a Royal Mail employee of more than ten years, has served as an elf for the past five. 'Every year for about two months, we don our elf hats, and then we’re working for Santa Claus,' he explained from the Royal Mail’s Tallents House in Edinburgh. '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.'
Ensuring a Reply from the North Pole
To receive a personalised response from Father Christmas before the big day, children must follow a few simple steps. Every letter needs a stamp and must clearly include the child's full name, address, and postcode. Letters should be addressed to: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa's Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.
In a move towards greater inclusivity, a British Sign Language (BSL) version of Santa's reply card is available for the first time this year. Braille versions also remain available upon request. Both can be arranged by emailing santamail@royalmail.com.
Keeping the Christmas Magic Alive
For the postal workers involved, the operation is a highlight of their year, reconnecting them with the wonder of childhood. 'It’s all part of the magic of Christmas, isn’t it?' reflected Mark Dawson. 'It brings out the kid in all of us, and it’s just a great, great time.'
Fellow elf Victoria McDonald, with five years at Royal Mail, echoed the sentiment. 'It’s just part of what makes Christmas magic for the kids,' she said, emphasising the enduring power of the Santa story.
Overseeing the precious delivery route to Reindeerland is Lisa Luveniyali, Royal Mail’s chief elf. She stated: 'Royal Mail continues to play a cherished role in the nation’s Christmas traditions. For over 60 years, we’ve proudly helped Santa manage the thousands of heartfelt letters sent by children across the UK.'
Her final tip for aspiring letter-writers? 'Just remember to include a stamp, your full name, and address so Santa knows where to send his response!'
