Nobody knows how it happened in America. Someone wrote a poem about the night before Christmas in the early 1800’s, and suddenly kids all over the country were sending letters to the old gift-giver. For over 130 years, over half its existence, America’s mailmen and women have been the liaison between Santa and his little ones.
That’s a long, long time. A grandma’s-grandma kind of long. And maybe even a grandma longer than that, provided she didn’t get run over by a reindeer. According to the USPS, kids started mailing their lists and letters to Santa around 1890, before cars, telephones, and even electric lights were ubiquitous.
And even before that, when life was much darker indoors after sundown, children would still write their letters and lists. But, with their mom and dad, they would send them to Santa by burning them on Christmas eve in their fireplace. Everyone back then knew the best way to get a message to Santa was to send it the same way he usually was able to visit–through the chimney.
Santa gained a lot of helpers, once people started using conventional mail to reach him. The United States Post Office was one of them, but there are many others. The USPS writes online that in 1901 Postmaster George Roberts continued the Brooklyn Post Office’s tradition of handling Mr. Clause’s letters. In 1906 he assured his customers that children’s letters would be handled through local charitable organizations as in past years, reportedly quoted by the New York Times on December 23 of that year as saying, “So far as the Brooklyn Post Office is concerned … I will see to it personally that he gets every message written him by the little ones of Brooklyn.”
There were a few hiccups along the way, but to this day, the American post office is still available to accept letters addressed to the jolly old elf.
But sadly just not as many people write letters, or lists, or anything else as they used to. In 1926, Americans sent 16 billion pieces of mail in 1926. That kept going up until it reached over 103 billion pieces of mail in 2001, when the Twin Towers in New York fell.
Since then those numbers have crashed down to 44 billion pieces of mail two Christmases ago. That a lot of words not written, a lot of cards not sent, and a lot of lists not mailed to Santa.
It’s probably not a coincidence that early in this century was when Americans became devoted to their mobile phones, bright shiny screens, and texting. Not to mention apps, email and now, AI.
It’s almost certain that in future Christmases, maybe even 2026, there will be AI Santas competing to tell kids of the wonders of the North Pole. But don’t be fooled. Santa is not artificial. He is one of the truest, most charitable gentlemen that ever walked with gifts for friends and neighbors. Truth is, it’s not the gift that Santa brings that is so important, it’s the love behind it that matters.
So Merry Christmas! Have a fun one. And don’t worry if you haven’t sent your list or letter out yet. Santa is a 24-7-365 kind of guy. There is a fireplace or a mailbox somewhere near you, and he’ll get it right away. Just remember to leave him a treat, Since he is kind to you, be kind back.
After 250 years, the spirit of Santa lives on at the United States Post Office
Nobody knows how it happened in America. Someone wrote a poem about the night before Christmas in the early 1800’s, and suddenly kids all over the country were sending letters to the old gift-giver. For over 130 years, over half its existence, America’s mailmen and women have been the liaison between Santa and his little ones.
That’s a long, long time. A grandma’s-grandma kind of long. And maybe even a grandma longer than that, provided she didn’t get run over by a reindeer. According to the USPS, kids started mailing their lists and letters to Santa around 1890, before cars, telephones, and even electric lights were ubiquitous.
And even before that, when life was much darker indoors after sundown, children would still write their letters and lists. But, with their mom and dad, they would send them to Santa by burning them on Christmas eve in their fireplace. Everyone back then knew the best way to get a message to Santa was to send it the same way he usually was able to visit–through the chimney.
Santa gained a lot of helpers, once people started using conventional mail to reach him. The United States Post Office was one of them, but there are many others. The USPS writes online that in 1901 Postmaster George Roberts continued the Brooklyn Post Office’s tradition of handling Mr. Clause’s letters. In 1906 he assured his customers that children’s letters would be handled through local charitable organizations as in past years, reportedly quoted by the New York Times on December 23 of that year as saying, “So far as the Brooklyn Post Office is concerned … I will see to it personally that he gets every message written him by the little ones of Brooklyn.”
There were a few hiccups along the way, but to this day, the American post office is still available to accept letters addressed to the jolly old elf.
But sadly just not as many people write letters, or lists, or anything else as they used to. In 1926, Americans sent 16 billion pieces of mail in 1926. That kept going up until it reached over 103 billion pieces of mail in 2001, when the Twin Towers in New York fell.
Since then those numbers have crashed down to 44 billion pieces of mail two Christmases ago. That a lot of words not written, a lot of cards not sent, and a lot of lists not mailed to Santa.
It’s probably not a coincidence that early in this century was when Americans became devoted to their mobile phones, bright shiny screens, and texting. Not to mention apps, email and now, AI.
It’s almost certain that in future Christmases, maybe even 2026, there will be AI Santas competing to tell kids of the wonders of the North Pole. But don’t be fooled. Santa is not artificial. He is one of the truest, most charitable gentlemen that ever walked with gifts for friends and neighbors. Truth is, it’s not the gift that Santa brings that is so important, it’s the love behind it that matters.
So Merry Christmas! Have a fun one. And don’t worry if you haven’t sent your list or letter out yet. Santa is a 24-7-365 kind of guy. There is a fireplace or a mailbox somewhere near you, and he’ll get it right away. Just remember to leave him a treat, Since he is kind to you, be kind back.
Leave a Reply