Dear Santa

We were approached by Thoughtwell (a print production company based in Edinburgh) to create a ‘Festive Promotion’. Thoughtwells primary audience are creative agencies, so it was important to reflect their capabilities. We set out to deliver something unique that would provide people with a lasting impression.
Every year, children and grown ups from all around the world send letters to Santa Claus. A collection of these letters is kept in the Santa Claus’ Archives, which is a part of the Oulu branch of the National Archives of Finland. Our idea was to create a little book containing a selection of letters written by children from years gone by. In their letters, children tell of their lives and their wishes, and ask of Santa, his elves and reindeer’s. The letters tell not only of the Christmas presents wished from Santa, but of the spectrum of other wishes, hopes and dreams. The book illustrates how children’s requests and perceptions of Santa Claus have changed over the years. But they also reflect the durability and timelessness of the ritual, and how even when so much else about the world changes, children’s imaginations (and desire for toys) remain a constant.