Children in France can write to Father Christmas via La Poste

Children can once again write to Santa Claus, whose famous sorting office set up by La Poste in Libourne (Gironde) reopened its doors on Tuesday November 14.

They can write to Santa Claus either by a traditional letter or electronically, says La Poste, which first opened their special Santa post office in 1962.

On the envelope, children can simply write 'Père Noël', however they are reminded not to forget to write their address on the back so that they can receive a reply.

Children will also be able to choose the electronic version on the pere-noel.laposte.fr website by choosing "Write to Santa Claus".

The traditional letter to Santa Claus does not need a stamp, and both can be sent up until December 20.

Guaranteed response from Santa and his elves

Santa Claus and his 60 or so elves are committed to answering free of charge, in French or English, to all children.

The children will receive "a beautiful letter from Santa Claus accompanied by a colouring postcard which they can send to their family and friends," La Poste said.

La Poste also invites children "to send drawings and messages for children in hospital to bring them joy and comfort," which will be transmitted through the Fondation des Hôpitaux.

This charity aims to improve the quality of life for children and teenagers in hospitals in France.

A helping hand

This year, Santa Claus will be accompanied by suspense writer Michel Bussi in writing his answers.

Michel Bussi "is very active with young people: he has written a Christmas story for the Red Cross and regularly supports the Secours Populaire.

“Since 2018, he has been writing for young people. One of his most widely read books is Les contes du Réveil Matin," according to a statement by La Poste.

The history of this tradition

La Poste reports receiving more than a million letters each year addressed to Santa Claus

When the service launched in 1962 they received 5,000 letters from children, who each received the same reply.

The reply was written by the famous paediatrician and psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto, sister of the then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jacques Marette.

The minister set up the initiative after learning that two postal workers, Odette Ménager in Nueil-sur-Layon (Maine-et-Loire) and Magdeleine Homo in Veules-les-Roses (Seine-Maritime), were themselves responding to letters sent to Santa Claus.

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