The holiday season is upon us—and has been upon us since before you unwrapped your first piece of Halloween candy—which means Santa Claus and kids all over the world are making their lists and checking them twice. The children of yesteryear were no less excited than their modern-day counterparts about a stranger breaking into their homes through a chimney. However, their taste in toys might leave today’s kids scratching their heads.
Still, if you’re stumped on your holiday shopping this year, draw some inspiration from the past and peruse a selection of early 20th-century letters to Santa. Showing up on Christmas morning with copious amounts of fruit, a box of matches or a lion is sure to make you the most popular gift giver around.
I don’t care what presents he’s bringing me, this guy is NOT shimmying down my chimney. From the Lubbock Avalanche, December 16, 1921.
Unfortunately for every member of her household, no one told Edna that dolls—and parents—need a solid eight hours of sleep a night:
Dear Santa:
I would like to have a doll carriage and a doll that won’t sleep. My last one just slept her head off, and would be good now if she hadn’t lost her head by sleeping so much. And bring me a dinner set and horn to wake papa and mama on Xmas morning. . . please don’t forget to come. My name is Edna Taylor.
“A Christmas Nightmare” by Will Crawford, 1911. From the Library of Congress.
Not content to ask for a puppy like all the other kids, Charles had a more exotic pet in mind. Maybe he was hoping for some help with all that candy:
Dear Santa Claus:
As Christmas is almost here, I must write and tell you what I would like to have you bring me. I am a little boy, will soon be three years old. I wish you would bring me a big doll Santa, for I love dolls most as well as little girls do. I also want a velocipede, a rocking horse, a toy train and auto, a dog cart and lion. . . Oh yes, don’t forget candy. A wheelbarrow full of candy, oranges and bananas. . . Oh, Santa, do hurry up and come and don’t forget anyone.
Santa, pictured before he ate so many cookies. From the San Francisco Call, December 17, 1911.
For poor Jewel’s sake, I hope Santa is the forgiving type:
Dear Santa Claus:
Are you going to visit me this Christmas? I hope so, Santa Claus. I want a basketball and some candy and nuts. . . Santa Claus, do you remember when I slammed the door in your face? I was afraid of you then Santa Claus. . . Well, Santa Claus, I guess that is all I have to say. Goodbye.
This is a very sophisticated Christmas list for a five-year-old. In fact, it sounds much more appropriate for big brother Landon. . . Santa’s elves better investigate a possible case of Christmas identity theft:
Dear Santa Claus:
I am a little boy five years old and wish you would bring me a double seat automobile, a box of tools, a box of matches, some fireworks, candies, nuts, a bottle of ink and a pen, and anything else you have to spare.
Very appropriate. . . and very boring. From the Ordway New Era, December 12, 1913.
Careful, R.B., back-sleigh driving is a naughty list-level offense:
Dear Santa Claus:
I hope you will come to see me and I will hang my stocking by the chimney. But I hope you won’t fall when you come down the chimney. And will you please bring me a football, but of course, you can’t put the football in the stocking but you can put it on the floor.
Welcome to Second Glance History! This blog seeks to uncover the people and the stories forgotten by history and give them another read through a modern lens. Join me every week as we examine the differences that divide and the common threads that connect the then to the now.
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