Ruralite Cafe: Published 12/23/02

By Lynn Hotaling - Associate Editor

Letters to Santa are Christmas tradition

Letters from children to Santa Claus have long been a staple of newspapers during the holiday season.

It was a newspaper editor who assured a girl named Virginia that Santa Claus really does exist. We are proud to continue this time-honored tradition this week with a sample of notes to Santa penned by fifth-graders in Mary Anne Roos's class at Smokey Mountain Elementary School.

Our only regret is that we don't have space to publish them all.

The students were not shy about telling Santa of their virtues - if they'd made the honor roll, if they'd been generally kind and good.

"I've been good this year. I got A honor roll. I listen to my teachers... I think I deserve billions of presents because I have been nice to my family and my friends. I did not hurt my sisters' feelings like last time when they got on my nerves," wrote Amanda.

Amanda hopes for a CD player, a CD by her favorite singer and a puppy. She also took the time to list her parents' holiday requests.

"My mom would like a break from all of the kids because she has so many things on her mind," Amanda wrote. "Santa for Christmas my dad wants us kids to behave and he wants a vacation from us kids."

Rose, who has been "extremely good," said she doesn't care what she gets, but took the time to chronicle her family members' requests - bike parts or paintball stuff for her brother, a CD player for her sister (with the clear inference that Rose is tired of her sister using Rose's CD player) and a special request for her mom.

"(Mom) needs a robot that does all of her work so she doesn't work until 9 or 10 o'clock each night."

Cody's letter tells Santa that Cody has been "really good" and goes on to describe how: "I helped a lot of people and even did jobs for them!"

Cody, who would like a game cube, X-box and a Game Boy, tells Santa he would be grateful for the presents and promised milk and cookies if Santa visits his house.

And then there is Emily, who wrote:

"I have been so good this year you wouldn't even believe it. I think I should get tons of gifts because I've been so good."

In return for all that goodness, Emily is hoping for a sweat shirt and several DVDs. Her brother wants shoes - boots and basketball, she said.

Emily didn't forget her parents even though she's not really sure what they would like to have.

"I don't know what my mom and dad would want but try to bring something for them anyway," she directed Santa.

Another Emily in the class hopes that Santa thinks she deserves some gifts. And in case he does, she included directions:

"If you have forgotten where I live, I live in a town called Whittier in North Carolina."

Trevor wants a rifle, a Garth Brooks CD and a five-disc CD player with tower speakers. His mom, at least according to Trevor, wants a year's supply of peanut butter fudge, boiled oatmeal cookies and Sparkling White Diamonds perfume.

Santa should bring this stuff, Trevor says, because "I have been good this year even though I have had problems in school. I do a lot for my family, I feed my dog and do all kinds of things."

Heading Haley's list is peace on earth, though she also wants a few more tangible things like rap CDs and a basketball. And she's hoping Santa will bring Mrs. Roos a new pencil sharpener.

A couple of poems came in with the letters. Here's one from Rose.

Santa Claus

I want to be Santa Claus

even though he's a boy

I want to be Santa Claus

and deliver all those toys

I want to be the one

coming down your chimney

I want to be Santa Claus

I want to deliver all the fun

But there is one problem...

I don't want to weigh a ton!

It was a real treat to read all the letters, and we're grateful to Mary Anne for sharing them with us so we could share them with all of you. Merry Christmas!

Back to Archive: 12/23/02.