What does tradition mean to you?

If you haven’t already guessed, I love this time of year. The days are long, the sun is warm and the house is filled with more laughter (mostly) and unique smells that instantly bring a smile to my face. There’s no doubt that it’s the smell and sound of tradition, the traditions of Christmas.

Do you remember things about the festive season when you were growing up? Was it something you ate? The smell of glazed ham, garden potatoes or fresh prawns? Or was it making presents for each other or going to the local carols? As I think about what this time of year means to me, it becomes evident that it’s the traditions the we have as a family, that make Christmas so special. The more I talk to others, I hear about new traditions, some of which really excite me.

Traditions are what make us, they are embedded into our culture, our history and shape our norm. A recent conversation about Christmas traditions got me excited so let me share some special Christmas traditions with you … so in no particular order here are some ideas I’ve put together:

1. December = Christmas story month! The excitement of snuggling up our kids and seeing their faces light up with a Christmas story will never get old. Get out your collection of Christmas books and read one each night until Christmas, perhaps is there a new one added each year? Perhaps there are 12 on rotation, 24 special ones (!) or even a special six? It is a beautiful way to bond and get the kids excited and reinforce the special stories of Christmas. Why not do a swap with family or friends for a week or two to get a fresh story or too to read?
2. Sweet dreams – get your kids a special Christmas pillow case that they use for the month of December (with regular washing of course)
3. Tis the season to be kind – This is one of my absolute favourite traditions. For me Christmas is as much about being gracious and showing gratitude as it is anything else so I am right behind the “acts of kindness” traditions. This one costs nothing, or very little and can be translate anyway you want but the idea is the that you work together as a family to do things for others, as acts of kindness. 10 days / 12 days / 5 days / 1 day it doesn’t matter – do what works for your family
4. Ginger all around us – when I recently spoke to a group of mums one of their favourite traditions involved cooking and in particular cooking ginger bread men or gingerbread houses. I absolutely loved this, and what a special treat for the kids. They told me this is an annual tradition as soon as the kids break up from school. I know not everyone is a Betty Crocker, so I did some research and Ikea has delivered. They have kits from just $5. If you trust your kids decorating skills they would also make beautiful gifts. I’ve also seen local supermarkets with some great kits too!
5. Escape the distraction and make decorating your tree a phone free time – today we have a unhealthy relationship with our phone, iPads and other devices so why not actively pop them away and have distraction free time, tune into your family only as you set up and decorate your tree, put the carols on and just enjoy all that Christmas has to offer.
6. Mark the year. Another favourite, don’t let the years fly by unnoticed get a special something that reminds of the year gone by and hang it on the tree – mark it with the years date. It could be from a holiday, a special place you’ve been, something from your home or garden or just something you love – you will create lasting memories and create talking points in the years to come
7. The special Christmas Eve Book – I know a few families who have a special read of The Night Before Christmas, and have done for generations
8. Pay it forward – I think this is a special idea and one I am going to be embracing. Going to a local toy store and choosing a gift each for someone less fortunate than ourselves. Each child chooses one for a child the same age, wraps them and then leaves them under one of the donation trees.
9. Christmas Night ideas (if you have the energy). How about once the kids are in bed on Christmas night, you put together new toys and games so that they can spend the entire Boxing Day playing with their gifts – extend the fun?

Some other favourite traditions I’ve come across include;

• Making Christmas wrapping paper – fun holiday activities for the kids and so cherished by the recipient (or reusing artwork from the year that has bee?)
• Christmas reef making with your friends (Adults that is)– forage each other’s gardens, pop the champagne and have fun creating something unique with a ring of oasis!
• Make an electronic Christmas Card – save on paper and get the family involved on making an electronic card
• Get into the spirit of Christmas –after the kids have gone to bed (finally) create and organise the Santa gifts or eat the milk and cookies – with Santa hats on!
• Write Santa letters – and if you want one back in the mail check out my shop https://lovefromsanta.com/personalised-letter-from-santa/
• Elf on the shelf – too fun
• Annual Santa photos
• Baking gifts and Santa cookies

Christmas is a time for family, friends, laughter, love, food, tradition and gratitude. Why not add a new ritual this year and see if it sticks? It may just become a tradition for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing to Santa and need an envelope to send your letter in? Download our cute little Santa envelope here

Envelope for Santa mail

I need an Advent Calendar!?

When I awoke this morning I had a text from a friend asking me just that question … have you seen any good Advent Calendar’s this year, I need to get one?

And neither us were talking about the chocolate advent calendars from the supermarkets, we are talking about the fun activity based ones where each day is found one pocket of mystery at a time. Obviously chocolate can be a part of that too if you wish 🙂

So I’ve put together the below listing for anyone who might also have the same question.

Advent Calendars kick into gear in 15 sleeps (1st of December) by my calculations, and with all the other goings on life that isn’t much time to get it all sorted, esp if you are planning to add some creativity to it.

Here are my pics for this year:

Bigoudiandbigouda – 25 gorgeous black and gold countdown pockets – personalised with your name / family name. $40 for the set. So pretty and so versatile. The ladder as in the photo looks stunning and/or perhaps an Elf (assuming Santa has sent you one) could also deliver one each day? Even hanging them on the tree would be magic. So many options and ideas to work with.

KeepsNZ have these fantastic pockets that come complete with a set of 31 activity cards (giving you room to choose the most suitable activities for your family) – the thing I love about this is that it’s all ready to GO. Display options as per above – and many more marvellous ways too. I think I would add some chocolate and a few other trinkets too, but it feels like a pretty perfect solution for $39.

As much as I love a white themed Christmas, there is  just something about Santa that really does get me excited too. Potter Barn Aus have a tall Santa advent calendar … and he’s on sale for $34. Santa is also standing tall at Ezibuy Home – now on sale for $24

Finally I just had to share the last two stunning canvas’s created by Hideandseektextiles in the UK and Kyddo shop. Sadly both sold out of this year now, but as a Christmas keepsake’s well worth putting on the ordering list for next year – in July 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other ideas …

Do you have a dog in your family … or perhaps you know someone with a fur baby. I think these dog advent calendars are pretty amazing. I’ve sent one to my brother for his fur baby!

*I brought an advent calendar from Fluff & Bubbles plus their “set of x24 different tea bags” and sent to an elderly friend last year … I really thought these were pretty sweet. They have some gorgeous, affordable calendars you can add your own things too. Perhaps there monotone print out is a good idea – so pretty and pretty easy to do (a “work” printer would print the monotone out very well …)

*follow me in the build up to Christmas on my instagram account (@lovefromsanta)- magic Santa ideas and christmas inspiration

Our NEW letters from Santa!

We have a wonderful range of NEW letters from Santa this year and we are so excited to be sharing them with you! They will be personalised and created in the same loving and careful way as always, but they have a touch of something different, special and magical that we love – including a beautiful red envelope!

The new range of letters from Santa feature bespoke water colour artwork by Mrs Claus herself! Mrs Claus is also known as the clever Clare Grove. Writer and illustrator of the gorgeous “My Mummy” books, Stylist, Influencer and Mummy of three beautiful children. We are tickled pink to have had her magic touch on this collection.

Clare has created three gorgeous water colour images that are the hero’s on our new designs. The collection comprises of a “Jolly Santa” an “Easing Elf” and a “Nosy Reindeer”. Beautifully created and put together – such a clever talent. The header of the letter is a more traditional “from the Desk of Santa” mark nodding to authenticity and Santa authority. Which one needs reminding of at the precious time – we believe 😉

The new letters from Santa are printed on a high quality paper stock, with an old school texture and touch – reminiscent of the North Pole of old. Letters from this collection are sent in a beautiful heavy red envelope postmarked from the North Pole, and stamped on the front like a traditional letter! They will also feature the “Official mail from the North Pole” mark on the back of the envelope (just like last years letters)

All letters from Santa are hand signed by Santa in red pen and proofed checked by Mrs Claus before sending – of course! These designs combined with our wonderful new words for this years letters are going to create quite some magic.

Remember this line from a couple of years ago …

“It’s a busy time here – but also the best time! Everyone’s been working so hard that last night we decided to let our hair down and have a disco. You and Anna and Fleur would have loved it. We called it The Pole Dance. Let me tell you, those elves can really move”

Or this one …

“I’ve been working on my sleigh. Mrs Claus tells me it’s important to look after myself, so this year I’m adding a new seat warmer. That will keep my bottom toasty and warm while I fly around the world visiting all the wonderful little children like you and Bonnie & Freddie“

Or one of my favourites …

“I bet you’ve also been spending lots of time playing with Rose and Olive – they are such special friends. Someone asked me the other day what the best present in the whole world was. And do you know what I said? Getting to spend lots of time with my family and my friends. That, and chocolate. I do love chocolate”

We’ve got more lovely moments like those in the letters this year, so exciting!

Key things to know about the letters from Santa this year:

Choose from two delivery dates this year:

• 1st week of December
• OR the week before Christmas

Last order dates:

• Outside of Australia 28th November (in the post on the 2nd December)
• Australia 12th December (in the post on the 14th December)

* “Reindeer Post, Elfing Around and Hug from Santa” designs remain the same as previous years and continue to be available as per normal

Letters can be ordered here

Who actually writes Santa’s letters?

Santa’s letters are not written by Santa himself, as much as we would love him too, the job he has ahead of him makes him busy enough ( imagine the stress of delivering every child’s treasured present in exactly the right colour, box, shape and model in ONE night – from the North Pole!). So instead we work with special people who have a connection and empathy with Santa. And he’s OK-ed that and happily signs each letter at the end!

This year our clever write, based in New Zealand, is one of those writers that you just love reading pro’s from. She has this ability to always make you feel warm and smiley with what ever you are reading. She’s a professional writer too, so she crafted and crafted this years letters and we are so pleased with them. Last year she wrote the Babies First Christmas letter when she had a small baby – it’s the most delicious letter! Makes me want to have another baby just to be able to order it and keep in my memory box! (well nearly).

We take this job pretty seriously, so the people we choose to do this work, have to be the right fit, the right calibre and have the integrity and love for Santa that we do. And of course they have to be believers too.

Here’s a couple of recent testimonials we have received:

I have been sending ‘letters from Santa‘ since my eldest grandchild was born in 2009. I now have 6 grandchildren. They all love getting their letters. There is nothing better than that phone call from each of them telling me they have a letter from Santa with so much excitement in their little voices. The letters are very popular with their parents too as they prove to the children that Santa is watching and they better be on their best behaviour!!

Christine, Nov 2016

“I love the Love From Santa letters because of the fantastic wording they use – it’s all about making my children feel special ”

Fran, Nov 2106

How do you write a letter to Santa?

Writing to Santa is probably one of the most exciting (and important!) things that a child will do every year. Its a letter filled with many moments worth of thought, so much hope and all the anticipation in the world. When you sit down to write your letter with your child here are some tips to help you get all that most important information out in a clear and concise way for Santa. Make sure you all start off watered, feed and rested …

Tip #1

Its always a good idea to remind Santa where you are going to be sleeping on Christmas Eve – although he knows these things, it’s never too silly to double check this with him!

Tip #2

Santa loves hearing about clever children – tell him something you have achieved this year that you are really really proud of

Tip #3

Don’t forget to mention a few of the things you are hoping to be given at Christmas time in your stocking! Maybe even some of the things Mummy & Dadddy don’t know about

Tip #4

Have you been “good” I know Mummy and Daddy always say Santa wont come if you haven’t been good. But I’ll let you into a secret -Santa actually likes a little bit of good wickedness.

Tip #5

And finally don’t be afraid to sprinkle your letter with colour, sparkles and pictures. Its inspiring and makes the letter memorable for Santa!

Here’s a funny example we have found … he needed some tips and tricks I think!

Make sure you check out our Pinterest account to see some  more Santa letter examples including the written to Santa letter written to JFK in 1961 when an 8 year old proclaims – “Please stop the Russians from bombing the North Pole because they will kill Santa Claus”! JFK wrote a very reassuring reply …

When should I send my child a letter from Santa?

This is a question that goes through a lot of parents minds – “when is the right time to send a letter from Santa?”, “is it too early?”, “will they remember?”, “is it too late?”, “have I missed the boat?” When will a letter from Santa have the most impact? When will $11.95 be the best money I have ever spent?

Well the answer from my experience the best time to get a letter from Santa … is any time, and all the time. Childhood is a very short period in life, and it’s magical at every stage, no matter how much your comprehension is.  We’ve helped Santa write letters to children aged from 1 month to 26 years, and even last year an 85 year old! Each and every one is special and magical in their own way. We smile and delight in each and every one Santa asks us to help him write.

My advice is to make the most of Santa, Christmas and magic and harness it to make it a special time for your family year after year – and receiving a special letter from Santa should be part of that year after year too. Use them to help you communicate to your child. Delight in the wonder of the message from Santa! And KEEP them so that you can reflect and read them in the many years ahead together – their magic never dies.

In terms of when I believe a child truly receives, believes and is truly mesmerised by the letter from Santa, the answer I believe is between 4 and 6 years. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful reactions and have heard wonderful stories about this moment. So if you were only to ever really send one letter from Santa to your child (really?) then hit the spot somewhere between 4 and 6 years – but make sure you don’t miss the spot (too many children have the magic snuffed out too early buy older children)!

Next up on the blog – some of the best letters Santa wrote in 2017