The history of wish lists: Where does the tradition of Christmas wish lists come from?

The wish lists as you know them today were not always associated with the same meaning. Around the year 1800, children did not have a wish list with gift wishes, but rather a Christmas letter written. Back then they addressed it to their parents, godparents or other family members – so not to Santa Claus or the Christ Child.

In the letters, the children thanked their parents and relatives for their upbringing and well-being. Around 1850 the Christmas letters then took on another meaning. Driven by the toy industry and its marketing purposes, it was henceforth possible to Christmas motifs on the slips placed and checked off.

In 1950, the story of the letter changed once again. Because at Karstadt, wish list sheets were developed, which could be sent directly to the Christ Child or Santa Claus. Since then, parents have been considered the two's helpful elves, as they forward the Christmas wishes and make sure they are heard and fulfilled.

Why are wish lists so important for children?

Children associate wish lists with lots of anticipation for Christmas. For them it's something magical when they express their wishes and trust the magic of Santa Claus and the Christ Child can. In addition, it means so much to them to spend time together with you as parents cozy family time to spend. Young children in particular are pleased when you show interest in their inner world and allow them to do as they please when creating the wish list.

It is the creativity and blossoming imagination that makes children's eyes widen and their hearts beat faster. Whether self-drawn or written wish lists – in any case, these are an annual ritual in the pre-Christmas season, which you can enjoy to the fullest. Not least through this you actively strengthen your family togetherness.

Writing wish lists – how anticipation for Christmas grows

Most toddlers and also older kids are excited when the time finally comes and they are allowed to write their wish lists. This marks the beginning for them of the most exciting time of the year. Ideally, you should make your afternoon for writing the wish lists as relaxed as possible.

Make yourselves a bit cozy by having enough Christmas treats ready, turning on string lights and candles, and, if necessary, playing your favorite Christmas music!

Writing the wish lists should be similar to Christmas crafts: It's not a must, but if you do, you should do it together and in a nice, festive mood. Basically you have several ideas and possibilities to get really creative and give expression to your Christmas wishes. On the one hand you can design the slips completely yourselves and on the other hand print out a template and fill it with content.

Whether as Christmas mail, a poster to hang up or as a letter that you hide well at home so that only the Christ Child and Santa Claus can see it – in any case, it is worth recording your own gift wishes. After all, who knows how many of those wishes will actually come true.

Designing wish lists yourself

If your children like to draw, they can decorate their wish list to their heart's content with Christmas motifs or with pictures of their Christmas wishes. For this, lay out your arts and crafts supplies ready so that your children can be creative. If your kids want, you draw a few lines on the wish list to note down the wishes, or your little ones write and draw freehand – whatever they like.

Printing wish lists

A blank or colorful wish list to print is quickly ready and offers children a great incentive to write down their wishes themselves. While the colorless template is just waiting to be designed in festive colors and offers more than enough space for plenty of creativity, with a colorful template the space is already determined by the Christmas motifs: this way children learn to write down only what they what they really wish for, instead of compiling a huge wish list.

Tips for the wish list

Let children write the wish list themselves:

Unlike toddlers, primary school children usually want to write their wish list themselves.

Let your children note down their wishes independently and in peace, even if spelling is still problematic. And have them read all the wishes to you at the end. That way you make sure you can decipher all creatively written terms.

Best not to interfere:

Do your children wish for a pony, a rocket and a computer? Of course not all Christmas wishes can be fulfilled, but your kids should still be allowed to write them down, without you interfering.

Tell them frankly that Santa Claus or the Christ Child will probably not bring a pony if there is no stable for it to live in. Or that rockets are very big and Santa will probably not be able to transport them in his sleigh. Wishes should nevertheless be allowed, especially at Christmas.

Wish lists in duplicate:

If your children want to send their wish lists to Santa Claus, you should note or photograph the wish list at a convenient moment, before you send the Christmas mail together.

This ensures that nothing is forgotten on the gift table. Alternatively, your children can create a second wish list to hang up at home, on which they can note, for example, wishes that might be added later. After all, Santa sees everything anyway, including the wish list that hangs at home.

Cutting out and sticking wishes:

Kindergarten children generally cannot write down their Christmas wishes themselves yet and also cannot properly read written words. If your children still want to design their wish lists entirely on their own, let them their wishes simply draw order stick on: In toy catalogs and magazines you will find plenty of colorful pictures that you can use for design. This is particularly practical if your children wish for a very specific toy.

Dealing with overly specific wishes:

If your children express Christmas wishes that are of particularly great emotional value, it is possible that you cannot fully meet them. All the more important is the handling of these special expressions of wishes.

If, for example, the most heartfelt wish of your kids is that Mom and Dad reconcile and get back together or that a major family dispute is put aside, it requires a lot of calm and empathy, to explain to your little ones that Santa Claus or the Christ Child can hardly do justice to that. Such concerns require a lot of time and cannot be resolved by Christmas.

Hang up Christmas wish lists or send them to Santa Claus/the Christ Child?

Whether the wish list is hung up visibly at home or sent by post to Santa Claus varies from family to family.

A wish list that stays at home has the advantage that parents and relatives always have the wishes in view and can plan their Christmas shopping accordingly. If you have made the slip in duplicate, a second version can be collected personally by Santa Claus or the Christ Child overnight as a letter.

Place the Christmas mail in a spot where they can find it and the magic can take its course. On the other hand, it is all the more exciting to send a nicely designed letter with the wish list to Santa Claus personally and perhaps even receive a reply.

In addition, your little ones learn what different letter elements Christmas mail consists of and what steps should be taken before the important content arrives in an envelope at the Christmas mail office.

Addresses of Santa Claus:

Anyone who wants to send their wish list to Santa Claus can do so in the usual way by post: every year the postal service sets up several Christmas post offices that accept wish lists and letters to Santa Claus and even answer them.

The address field on the envelope should read:

To Santa Claus \nChristmas Mail Office \n16798 Himmelpfort

OR

Himmelsthür \n31137 Hildesheim

Addresses of the Christ Child:

The Christ Child also has its own Christmas post offices. The address line should read:

To the Christ Child \n51777 Engelskirchen

OR

21709 Himmelspforten

OR

97267 Himmelstadt