Letter from Father Christmas: example and ideas

What makes a letter personal

A child's name at the top is a start, but it does not make a letter personal on its own. What does is a detail your child recognises straight away: the first time they rode a bike without stabilisers, the friend they made in a new class, the way they helped a younger cousin at a birthday party.

Try to tell one small scene rather than listing qualities. "You are very kind" is pleasant but easy to forget. "You showed your little sister how to fold a paper star, even though it took four tries" lets your child picture the moment again and know that someone noticed it.

It also helps to mention something your child is curious about. A question about how reindeer find their way in the dark, or a new interest in dinosaurs or space, gives Father Christmas something real to talk about.

An example letter for Emma

Dear Emma,

The first snow has settled outside my workshop, and while the elves hunt for their scarves I have been thinking about your summer. I heard that you were brave enough to swim a little way on your own at the pool. Perhaps it felt strange at first. You tried anyway, one stroke at a time, with people you trust close by.

I have also heard about the afternoons with your little brother. When you read to him, an ordinary sofa turns into a ship, a castle or a cave. You do not need to do anything special for that. Your time and your imagination are a gift already.

You asked how the reindeer know where to go when it is dark. The honest answer is that they have very good noses and an even better memory for rooftops. Rudolph likes to lead the way, even on practice runs.

This Christmas I wish you warm hands, cosy stories and plenty of reasons to laugh. And if something does not work out straight away, it is perfectly all right to take a break and ask for help.

Your Father Christmas

Ideas for different ages

For toddlers and preschool children, short sentences and one familiar picture work best: snow at the window, a sleepy reindeer, a mug of hot chocolate. You will probably be reading it aloud, so keep it to a few lines and leave room for them to look at the envelope and the seal.

Children who have just started reading enjoy spotting their own name and a few words they know. A short scene from school or a favourite game, written in simple words, gives them something to read again on their own.

Older children often like a little more story and a touch of humour, such as an elf who keeps losing the sticky tape or a reindeer with strong opinions about carrots. They may also notice whether the letter really knows them, so the specific details matter even more. Every child is different, so go by what yours enjoys rather than a fixed age.

Why we leave presents and behaviour out

A letter from Father Christmas can mention a wish your child has talked about, as something to look forward to, without promising that it will arrive. Plans change, things sell out, and a letter is kept for years. It should not be remembered for a promise that was not kept.

We also leave out conditions and warnings. There is no "only if you are good", no list of who has been naughty and no one watching from the North Pole. Many children have had a hard year in one way or another, and a Christmas letter can be a place where they simply feel seen and encouraged.

How SantaBrief letters are made

You answer a few questions: your child's name, age and town, what they were proud of this year and what they are curious about. A first draft is written automatically from your answers, and then you read it and change every sentence until it sounds right for your family. Nothing is printed until you are happy with it.

You also choose who the letter is from. In English it is signed by Father Christmas unless you choose Santa, and you can type a signature of your own instead. Letters can be written in English, German, Czech, Ukrainian or Russian.

We print the finished letter on good paper and post it in a proper envelope, with an optional wax seal (€2.50) and snow dust (€1.90). The pre-order price is €10.99 instead of the regular €12.99. We post to addresses in Germany, Czechia, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Poland and Switzerland, but not to the UK or anywhere else.