In France, all children who write to Santa by December 20 will receive a reply, drafted by his secretariat at La Poste, based in Libourne, which has reopened. One million letters are sent there every year, according to AFP.
Children have until December 20 to send their dreams, wishes and drawings to Santa Claus. This year, singer and novelist Olivia Ruiz “brings her unique talent and sensitivity to answering children’s letters,” La Poste said in a press release.
Children are invited to send, in addition to their letters to Santa, a kind message or drawing for elderly people who are alone, to bring them “warmth and comfort” over the festive period. These will be forwarded to nursing home residents through the 1 Lettre 1 Sourire association.
The free service was launched in 1962
Children can also address Santa by e-mail, at pere-noel.laposte.fr, choosing the “Write to Santa Claus” section. If they still choose the traditional option and write the letter by hand, the children can write on the envelope, to the recipient, only “Santa Claus”, not forgetting to write their address and name on the back in order to receive a reply. The letter to Santa does not require a stamp.
The free service was launched in 1962, when children received a standard answer written by the famous pediatrician and psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto, sister of the then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jacques Marette.
The minister launched this initiative after discovering that two postmistresses in France, Odette Ménager and Magdeleine Homo, were themselves answering letters sent to Santa Claus, according to La Poste.
Source: www.descopera.ro
