How do I write a letter to Santa Claus?
A letter to Santa follows a simple order: a greeting, a little news, wishes, a thought for others and a signature. Your child can write it, dictate it or draw it.
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Say hello
‘Dear Santa’ or ‘Hello Santa’: your child introduces themselves with their first name and age, then asks how Santa or his reindeer are doing.
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Talk about the past year
A memory, a success, an effort of which he is proud: a few lines suffice. It is this passage that makes the letter personal, much more than the gift list.
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Write down your wishes
Two or three wishes, with a useful detail: the colour, character or volume. An outing, time with the family or a gift for someone else also belongs in the letter.
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Thinking about others
A wish for Mom and Dad, a question about the North Pole, a drawing for the elves: the letter does not only refer to gifts.
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Thank and sign
A thank you, a first name, a drawing or a handprint. Then write your child's name and address on the back of the envelope so they can receive a reply.
Model letters to Santa Claus, from toddler to adult
Sample letters to Santa to adapt: change the first name, memories and wishes so the letter reflects the person writing it.
For a small one who dictates (3-5 years)
‘Dear Santa, my name is Léo and I am 4. This year, I learned to ride a bike without stabilisers. For Christmas, I would like a fire engine and a book about dinosaurs. Give the reindeer a kiss. Léo’ Dictated to a parent, with a drawing of a Christmas tree.
For a child aged 6 to 8 years
‘Hello Santa, it's Inès, and I am 7. I have been good this year: I started CE1 and I am reading my first novels all by myself. I would like volume 3 of my favourite series, a board game to play with my brother and a day at the ice rink with Dad. Do your elves get cold at the North Pole? Thank you very much, sending you a kiss. Inès’
For an older child who writes independently (9 and over)
‘Dear Santa, I know you have lots of work, so I will keep this short. This year, I have improved at football and helped my little sister learn to read. If possible, I would like football boots in size 36 and a book about space. A cuddly rabbit would make my sister very happy. Have a good round! Sami’
For a child who can't write yet
Your child can draw their wishes or cut pictures out of a catalogue, and you write their words alongside. A single drawing still makes a real letter to Santa.
For baby's first Christmas
‘Dear Santa, this is the very first Christmas for Lou, who is 8 months old. This year, she has learned to sit up by herself and loves books she can chew. If you come to our house, a fabric picture book and pyjamas in size 12 months would make her very happy. Her parents, a little tired but very happy’ Written by the parents, to keep in baby's album.
An adult's letter, with humour
‘Dear Santa, I know I am too old for this, but I have been almost good: I have watered my plants every other week and replied to almost all my messages. This year, I would like a good novel, socks that stay in pairs and dinner with my friends. And if there is still room in your sack, an extra hour of sleep. Thank you, and have a good round. Claire’
What's Santa's address?
In France, La Poste says that simply writing ‘Père Noël’ on the envelope is enough: the letter is sent to Santa's secretariat in Libourne, Gironde.
La Poste's Santa secretariat has existed since 1962. In 2025, La Poste said it helped more than a million children each year and installed special Santa postboxes in more than 2 300 post offices.
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From France: ‘Père Noël’ is enough. La Poste also suggests more imaginative addresses, such as ‘Petit Papa Noël, 1 rue du Ciel étoilé, Pôle Nord’.
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From abroad: La Poste recommends the address ‘Père Noël, 33500 Libourne, France’ to make sure the letter arrives.
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No stamp needed: according to La Poste, this service is free and the letter does not need postage.
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To receive a reply : Note the name and the full address of your child on the back of the envelope.
When should you send your letter to Santa?
Post the letter as soon as Santa's secretariat opens in November. In 2025, it opened on 19 November and children had until 20 December to write and receive a reply before 25 December.
The dates change a little each year: check them on the La Poste website. During this period, La Poste also proposes a digital letter on pere-noel.laposte.fr; in 2025 Santa's reply was accompanied by a postcard to be coloured, in French or English according to the language of the letter.
Take a photo of the letter before posting it: it makes a lovely keepsake and helps you prepare the list for your loved ones.
A letter to Santa Claus to print
If your child prefers a nice paper, Listopia offers a Christmas list and four illustrated letters to Santa Claus, free of charge, to print in A4.
My very first letter
Three wishes, a memory and a drawing, to write or dictate.
In the elves’ village
Plenty of space to draw wishes or stick pictures of them.
The enchanted forest
An open-ended letter to write in your own words.
The toy workshop
Four wishes to tell Santa about.
Each template also comes in a simple black-and-white version to decorate.
After the letter: a list for relatives
The letter remains a magical moment between your child and Santa Claus. So that grandparents, uncles and aunts don't offer twice the same gift, copy his wishes into an online list.
On Listopia, the list is free and without registration: the relatives open the link, reserve a gift, and the others see that, it is already taken. By default, the reservations remain hidden from the recipient.
Add the detail from the letter to each wish (the volume, shoe size or colour): that is what prevents mistakes.