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Canada Post handling thousands of kids' letters to Santa

It's an annual tradition, writing a letter to Santa. But what are kids saying to the man in red? We visited Santa's helpers at Canada Post to find out.

Wish lists include nerf guns, paw patrol toys, remote control cars and shopkins

Children's letters to Santa
In one letter a child asked for a tambourine, while another was hoping for Pokemon. (Paul Borkwood/CBC)

It's an annual tradition, writing a letter to Santa. But what are kids saying to the man in red? Canada Post let us inside their workshop so we could peek at some of the letters, and it turns out most kids are asking questions.  

Santa's helpers read every letter, and make sure they all receive a reply from St. Nick, himself. (Amanda Grant/CBC)

"Does Rudolph have a girlfriend?"

"How many cookies do you eat?"

"Can you bring pets?" 

"How many outfits do you have? Or is it just the one?" 

"Are the elves driving you crazy?"

Many children include drawings and stickers with their letters to make them stand out for Santa. (Amanda Grant/CBC)

Every year thousands of kids write letters to Santa, and put them in the mail to The North Pole. That's where Canada Post comes in. Every letter with the postal code HOH OHO is directed to the mail service, where Santa's helpers read every letter and help a very busy St. Nick respond. 

What are kids saying in their letters to Santa?

8 years ago
Duration 2:04
Canada Post let CBC Toronto peek inside some letters to Santa.

"My most favourite thing of all is it keeps the magic of Christmas alive," said Patricia Burn, one of Santa's helpers at the South Central post office. 

Some of Santa's helpers working at Canada Post's South Central location in Toronto. (Paul Borkwood/CBC)

"I am a Christmas-aholic ... and this just makes my world spin."

Last year, Canada Post received 1.5 million letters, including some from China, New Zealand, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Italy. 

Canada Post receives letters from children around the world and every letter is responded to in the language of the original author. (Paul Borkwood/CBC)

Topping the wish lists this year are Paw Patrol toys, Shopkins, remote control cars, nerf guns and video games. 

But some kids had more unusual requests. 

"My baby brother would like a toy car, even though he is just a baby. My dog Duke would also like a car and my mom and dad would like a car too," wrote one child.

"I don't have a tambourine, could you please bring me one at Christmas time?," asked another.

"This year I would like my father to come, so we can all be together for Christmas," wrote one boy.  

Canada Post will answer any letter, whether it's written by a two-year-old or a 92-year-old. (Amanda Grant/CBC)

One letter came from someone with an inner child. 

"Dear Santa," she wrote. "I hope you have a great Christmas. This year I am 83 years old and I'd love to get a letter from you." 

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