Each Christmas season, letters to Santa flood in from children around the globe — however in Santa Claus, Indiana, volunteers develop into Santa’s elves to make sure each baby will get a reply.
This small city, in line with locals, was initially going to be known as “Santa Payment.” Its request for metropolis standing, nonetheless, was denied attributable to an current city already named Santa Fe in Indiana.
Consequently, it was named Santa Claus as a substitute. It is the house of a decades-old custom of responding to letters despatched to Santa.
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Final yr, almost 25,000 letters arrived — and this yr, volunteers anticipate much more.
Santa Claus, Indiana, could also be small, but it surely has an enormous vacation spirit. The city’s submit workplace has been receiving letters addressed to Santa for almost a century.
A baby’s letter to Santa is preserved on the Santa Claus Museum in Indiana. (Olivianna Calmes/Fox Information)
For years, volunteers have answered these letters, guaranteeing every baby receives a personalised response.
The submit workplace is likely one of the oldest buildings within the city, relationship again to 1856.
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Pat Koch, the city’s “Chief Elf” on the Santa Claus Museum and Village, has been concerned within the effort since she was solely 12 years outdated, she instructed Fox Information.
“When my father got here again from the Navy, from World Struggle I, he went to the submit workplace to go to the postmaster in Santa Claus, and located that he was simply inundated with mail and letters from kids,” Koch mentioned.
Pat Koch or “Chief Elf,” at proper, shares the ins and outs of how to answer letters despatched to Santa from the world over. (Olivianna Calmes/Fox Information)
Immediately, the hassle is a group effort, with “elves” serving to to type, learn and reply to 1000’s of letters.
The unique submit workplace remains to be on the coronary heart of this course of.
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Letters are answered within the constructing’s backroom, an area the place the magic of Santa is saved alive year-round.
“I believe it’s completely great that kids nonetheless imagine, due to all of the social media, TV, motion pictures and all that,” mentioned Koch.
A volunteer on the Santa Claus Museum in Indiana replies to a toddler’s heartfelt letter to Santa. (Olivianna Calmes/Fox Information)
The Santa Claus Museum showcases letters relationship again to the Thirties, with some written by kids from the world over.
Many letters are crammed with pleasure — however some mirror deeper, harder conditions.
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“We do get many unhappy letters. I can say final week I believe it was a toddler who was mature mentioned, ‘I hope my mother will get drug examined.’ That’s actually unhappy. And all we will say is ‘Santa is hoping your mom will get higher,’” Koch mentioned.
She mentioned answering each letter is vital to unfold Christmas cheer to children in all conditions.
A welcome sign up Santa Claus, Indiana, “America’s Christmas Hometown.” (Olivianna Calmes)
The elves on the Santa Claus Museum and Village can obtain letters to Santa any time of the yr at this deal with:
Santa Claus
P.O. Field 1
Santa Claus, IN 47579
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The city itself options Vacation World and Splashin’ Safari (previously known as Santa Claus Land), which is alleged to be one of many world’s first amusement parks.
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It additionally options Christmas-themed outlets, eating places, even a grocery retailer that embraces the festive environment year-round.
