Children this time of year lean deeply into the magic of it all, with the story of St. Nicholas, the tradition of a literary and poetic Santa Clause, and at the foundation the mythology of Christ, his miraculous birth, and every storied texture that has gone into making Christmas what it is. The sights, sounds, smells, and symbols are unlike any other holiday we have in the Christian calendar, to prepare ourselves during Advent and yet feast and celebrate when Christmastide comes around. This is an opportunity for your child to lean into that narrative, if ever so slightly, and enjoy a simple yet encouraging opportunity to send and receive a letter from Father Christmas this year.

"Letters from Father Christmas" was inspired by my own daughter, who wished to write a letter to Santa, and of course expected to receive one in return, as well as J.R.R. Tolkien's letters to his own children. I saw the look on my daughter's face when she got Father Christmas's return letter in the mail; I was also delight to read, because she wrote her original letter in great confidentiality and wouldn't even let me, her real father, read it before she sent it off, what she actually wanted for Christmas and what she hoped the rest of us would get. I hope your child's own letter brings to their heart, imagination, and your home that same delight and warmth.