Catholic Activity: Christmas Letters to the Christ Child

This old Catholic custom of writing letters to Christ during Advent should replace the custom of writing letters to Santa Claus.

DIRECTIONS

An old Catholic custom is the writing of "Christmas letters" by the small children. These letters, addressed to the Child Jesus (not to Santa Claus) are written or dictated by the little ones some time before Christmas. They contain their wishes concerning presents, petitions for various intentions, and a promise of sincere effort to please our Lord in preparation for Christmas. When they go to bed, the children put their letters on the windowsill, from where "angels" take them during the night to bring them to the Child Jesus in heaven. This charming custom helps the parents to impress on the minds of their little ones the importance of a sincere spiritual preparation and at the same time acquaints them with their children's desires and wishes for particular presents. Parents who favor this custom will often be deeply touched when they discover that some of their children put more stress on spiritual graces than on material gifts even on an occasion like this.

Activity Source: Year of the Lord in the Christian Home, The (reprinted as Religious Customs in the Family) by Francis X. Weiser, S.J., The Liturgical Press; reprinted by TAN Books and Publishers, 1964