Dear Santa Letter Week – November 8, 2026

Dear Santa Letter Week
Categories:
Tags:
Children
Where:
International
Date change rule:
Week starting with the 2nd Sunday of November
Holiday emoji:
✉️

Dear Santa Letter Week arrives every second week of November, inviting children to pen their heartfelt wishes to Santa Claus. This cherished tradition sparks joy and imagination, allowing kids to express their hopes for the holiday season. Encourage your little ones to write their letters, share their lists, and embrace the magic of Christmas.

Want to sponsor Dear Santa Letter Week? Learn how

Expected Dear Santa Letter Week Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that Dear Santa Letter Week inspires a variety of festive deals. Retailers like Amazon and Target often feature discounts on toys, stationery, and holiday decor, encouraging early gift planning. Stationery brands such as Crayola and Hallmark typically offer sales on festive writing kits, paper, and greeting cards. The USPS often promotes their ‘Operation Santa’ program, providing a way for volunteers to fulfill children’s wishes. Expect family-friendly restaurants to offer special holiday-themed meals or craft activities. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as November approaches.

Platform Guide for Dear Santa Letter Week

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #DearSantaLetterWeek. Share heartwarming photos of children’s creative letters, wish lists, and the excitement of sending them off.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #DearSantaLetterWeek. Film your kids writing their letters, documenting their holiday dreams, or even opening replies from ‘Santa’.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #DearSantaLetterWeek. Encourage parents to share their children’s unique letter-writing experiences and holiday traditions.

Social Media Tips for Dear Santa Letter Week

Individuals

Gather your family and help your children craft their letters to Santa. Make it a fun activity with colorful paper, glitter, and drawings, then take a special trip to the mailbox.

Creators

Document the entire letter-writing process, from brainstorming wish lists to sealing the envelope. Consider creating a 'DIY Santa Letter Kit' video or sharing tips for getting a personalized response.

Brands

Stationery companies can run contests for the most creative Santa letters. Toy brands can highlight products on children's wish lists, and postal services can promote special mailing services for Santa mail.

Top Brands for Dear Santa Letter Week

  1. Crayola

    Founded in 1885, Crayola is a leading manufacturer of art supplies. Their colorful crayons, markers, and paper are essential tools for children creating vibrant letters to Santa, fostering creativity and expression.

  2. Hallmark

    Established in 1910, Hallmark is renowned for its greeting cards and holiday merchandise. They offer a wide array of festive stationery, ornaments, and gifts that enhance the magic of writing and sending letters to Santa.

  3. USPS

    The United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the executive branch, plays a crucial role in delivering millions of letters to Santa each year. Their 'Operation Santa' program helps fulfill wishes for children in need.

  4. Amazon

    Founded in 1994, Amazon is the world's largest online retailer. During Dear Santa Letter Week, Amazon becomes a primary destination for parents to shop for toys, books, and other items on their children's wish lists.

  5. Target

    Founded in 1902, Target is one of the largest retail chains in the U.S. They offer a vast selection of holiday gifts, stationery, and festive supplies, making them a popular stop for families preparing Santa letters.

  6. Macy's

    Established in 1858, Macy's is an iconic American department store. Famous for its holiday window displays and 'Santaland' experiences, Macy's has long been a destination where children can visit Santa and share their wishes.

  7. Paper Source

    Founded in 1983, Paper Source is a premier paperie and gift retailer. They offer unique stationery, craft supplies, and customizable cards, providing beautiful materials for children to create truly special letters to Santa.

Dear Santa Letter Week Hero

Santa Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle, is the legendary figure who brings gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on Christmas Eve. His benevolent spirit and the tradition of writing him letters inspire hope and joy, making him the ultimate symbol of holiday magic.

History of Dear Santa Letter Week

Toward the close of the 1700s, St. Nicholas made his first foray into popular culture in the United States. A New York newspaper stated in December 1773 and again in 1774 that groups of Dutch families had assembled to commemorate his death anniversary. Nick’s Dutch moniker, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, became Santa Claus. At the New York Historical Society’s annual meeting in 1804, John Pintard, a member, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas.

Sinter Klaas is variously depicted — from wearing a blue hat, crimson waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man sporting a broad-brimmed hat and a “big pair of Flemish trunk hose” as his fame rose. In 1820, stores began advertising Christmas shopping, and by the 1840s, newspapers had created dedicated sections for holiday advertisements, which frequently contained images of the symbol of the holidays: Santa Claus.

An Episcopal preacher, Clement Clarke Moore, wrote “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” most commonly known as “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas,” for his three daughters in 1822. Moore’s work, which he was reluctant to publish at first owing to the whimsical nature of the subject, is primarily responsible for our present image of Santa Claus.

Countless Christmas-celebrating kids flocked to a Philadelphia store in 1841 to view a life-size Santa Claus model. It would only be a matter of time before the allure of seeing a “living” Santa Claus drew youngsters and their parents into stores. When Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock allowed local postmasters to let their workers react to letters received over the holiday season in 1912, the practice of writing to Santa began.

In the 1940s, mail traffic for Santa expanded to the extent that the Postal Service extended the same offer to philanthropic organizations, community groups, and companies to assist and answer to children who wrote letters to Santa.

Dear Santa Letter Week timeline

1700s
St. Nicholas Makes an Appearance

St. Nicholas makes his first appearance in American popular culture.

1820
Stores Advertise Christmas Shopping

Stores start advertising Christmas shopping.

1822
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ Is Published

Clement Clarke Moore publishes his poem and sets the tone for the modern perception of Santa Claus's image.

1912
The First Return Letters

Frank Hitchcock, the Postmaster, approved replies written by local postmasters to letters addressed to Santa Claus.

Dear Santa Letter Week FAQs

When is Dear Santa Letter Week?

Dear Santa Letter Week 2026 runs from Sunday, November 8 through Saturday, November 14, encouraging children to share their holiday wishes and connect with the magic of Christmas.

How many letters does Santa receive each year?

While an exact global count is impossible, postal services worldwide handle millions of letters addressed to Santa Claus annually. In the U.S. alone, the USPS ‘Operation Santa’ program processes hundreds of thousands of letters.

Why is writing letters to Santa still popular?

The enduring popularity of writing letters to Santa stems from its ability to foster imagination, reinforce family traditions, and build anticipation for the holiday season. It’s a tangible way for children to express their dreams.

What happens to letters written to Santa?

Many postal services, including the USPS with its ‘Operation Santa’ program, have special initiatives to handle letters to Santa. Some are answered by volunteers, while others may be sent to designated ‘Santa’s workshops’ for replies.

Dear Santa Letter Week Activities

  1. Write to Santa

    Santa is always happy to hear from you, whether you’re a kid or an adult. So get your favorite pen and paper and tell him what you want for the holidays.

  2. Help a child write a letter

    Parents and other adults can help the little ones draft their letters to Santa Claus. Show them the proper address and help them get their dream gifts this holiday season.

  3. Send a reply

    Why not complete the circle by sending a reply from Santa to your kids or volunteering at the post office to write replies. You would be giving some children the perfect Christmas.

5 Facts About Santa That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. The legend of the red and white

    Santa’s previously colorful outfits were limited to red and white, after an advertising campaign by the Coca-Cola company in 1931.

  2. Strained relationship

    Mrs. Claus made her first appearance in 1849 in a short story by James Rees, a Philadelphia missionary, titled “A Christmas Legend.”

  3. Keeping spooky company

    Washington Irving, the author of the “Legend of the Sleepy Hollow," is responsible for the idea of Santa carrying gifts down the chimney.

  4. Santa’s helpers

    Since 1914, letters addressed to Santa Claus have been replied to by volunteers, and include a return address.

  5. Christmas was once against the law

    The General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony adopted a law in 1659 banning Christmas celebrations, with defaulters asked to pay a fine of five shillings.

Why We Love Dear Santa Letter Week

  1. A conversation with Santa

    The fact that we can talk to Santa is much too exciting to contain. A direct line to the big man in red is something that doesn’t happen every day. Having a whole week to do it is just a bonus.

  2. Last-minute gift requests

    Dear Santa Letter Week is the best time to make those final additions to your Christmas wishlist. You can tweak your selections and get the best out of the holiday season.

  3. A magical holiday

    Christmas always comes with its fair share of magic and wonder. It’s little traditions such as this one that makes the holidays that much more special and memorable.

Dear Santa Letter Week dates

Year Date Day
2025 November 9–15 Sunday–Saturday
2026 November 8–14 Sunday–Saturday