‘Dear Santa’: Adorable Christmas Requests from Kids, 1900s—Now
Dear Santa: Adorable Christmas Requests from Kids, 1900sNow
By Beth Greenfield, Yahoo Shine Staff, December 17, 2913
A preserved 1915 letter to Santa Claus went viral this week because of its touching modesty: A box of paint, a school bag, and a bit of candy were the only requests on the list. And it got us wondering: How have Santa letters changed over the decades?
The 1915 letter. Courtesy Laurie Bloomfield
A century ago, kids were unassuming and didn't ask for much; they became more and more emboldened over the decades, but it wouldn't be until almost the 1970s that they'd start really requesting items by brand name (thanks, TV advertising).
According to the United States Post Office's Pete Fontana, "chief elf" of the national 101-year-old Letters to Santa department, messages to the North Pole have taken a sad turn in just the 16 years that he's overseen the program. "Now they have a more serious intent," Fontana tells Yahoo Shine. "People talk about how they're poor, are living on low incomes some even send their tax returns to prove it."
That's because parents know the USPS program makes its letters available to the public, who can choose one to honor with generous gifts. "The biggest change is how many single moms are writing, making close to minimum wage, asking for the basics clothing, even food," he says.
It's actually reminiscent of letters from over a century ago. While the USPS only keeps its Santa letters for a year before shredding them, thousands of others, previously published in the "Dear Santa" pages of local newspapers across the country, are accessible on MyHeritage.com . And what's continually striking about the earliest lists is a lack of greed.
Click this link to read the rest of this article, about how the letters have changed over the years:
http://shine.yahoo.com/holiday-gift-guide/8216-dear-santa-39-adorable-christmas-requests-kids-192200129.html
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So much for Miracle on 34th Street.
I don't believe in Santa Clause myself. I've been asking him for a Maserati Quadroporte for years and he totally ignores me.
Well, I'm still undecided (as to whether he exists or not).
Depends on what colour he is. When I find out, then I'll decide!
Santa told me to set my alarm clock for 8 am March 1, 2014.
Why, is he going to be late?