Christmas Wishes of the Past

The timeless tradition of writing letters to Santa Claus—while the world around us may change, some traditions endure. Take a walk down memory lane as you read through letters from past issues of the Lewis County Herald, and let the Christmas spirit warm your heart.

December 20, 1923

Dear Santa, Please visit me Christmas and bring me a wagon and some things to eat. Remember my four sisters Glena, Lela, Jessie, and Sue, and don’t forget mama and daddy. –Your little man, Edward Floyd Gobble

Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a wagon, a peter rabitt, a big doll that says Mama and some little knives, forks and spoons, some candy, apples and oranges. –Your little friend, Martha Angie Lipsomb

Dear Santa Claus, I am a little boy 7 years old and go to school every day. Please bring me a dog, hand car, a gun and a story book some apples, oranges and candy. –Your little friend, Ernest Pollock

Dear Santa, We are two little girls that have no papa. We don’t want you to forget us, we have been good. Please bring us some fruit, nuts and candy and something nice for us to play with. Please don’t forget our Mama and brothers and sisters. –Your little girls, Menia and Rachel Lindsey

Dear Santa, I am a little boy and go to school every day, I am in the second reader and try to have perfect lessons. I want you to bring me a foot-ball, a gun, coaster-wagon, French harp, and lots of candy, nuts, and fruits. Bring Ray a Kiddie Kar. –Rex Grimes

Dear Santa, Please bring me a little set of dishes some candy, apples, oranges, nuts and a cocoanut. –Your little girl, Louise O’Guin, Kimmins, Tenn.

Dear Santa, I am a little boy 4 years old and I want you to bring me a little wagon and fruits of all kind. Don’t forget my little sister, Mama and Daddy. –Your little boy, Denis Talley

Dear Santa, I am a little girl 8 years old. I go to school every day. am in the 5th grade I want you to bring me a big doll, doll bed and lots of little dishes, plenty of fruits and candy. I am a very good little girl, please don’t forget my baby brother he needs a rattler. –Your little girl, Fanny Ruth clay

December 21, 1933

No extant issue was available for review.

December 23, 1943

No letters to Santa were published this year.

December 24, 1953

No letters to Santa were published this year.

December 19, 1963

Dear Santa, Truck, gun, train, bang ball. –Jeff

Dear Santa, I love you Santa Claus and you love me. Some story book things, yes, toys, Santa Claus. –Cathy Morton

Dear Santa, Timmie Hinson wants you to bring him a Tiger Joe and a machine gun. If you can I want a typewriter or a record player. –Timmie Hinson

Dear Santa, I am a girl of six years old and I still believe there is a Santa. I am looking forward to seeing you very soon. I will be pleased if you would bring me something nice for Christmas. –Thank you very much, Diana

Dear Santa, I am a good boy. I want a wagon for Christmas. This is all I have to say. –Fred

I want a doll for Christmas. Patty wants a doll house. Steve wants a cattle truck. Douglas wants a gun. I will leave you some cake and coffee. Have you seen my Uncle Hollis up there? He wrote us and said he had seen you. Have you been watching us? We have been awful naughty little kids down here. –Merry Christmas to all, Deborah Gail Sims

Dear Santa, I have been good. Please bring me a smoking gun, transistor radio, ball machine, and some batteries for my train. –Ricky Morrow

Dear Santa, I want a baby doll and a book for Christmas. --Brenda

Dear Santa, Will you bring me a bicycle and a wagon. –Jimmy Spears

Dear Santa, I am one of your six year old friends from Hohenwald. I saw you and talked to you last year, but you pribably would not know me because I have grown so big and have lots of new teeth. Thanks Santa, for the toys you left under my tree last year. They were lots of fun I have a few things I want you to bring this Christmas. All girls like to play with Barbie and Midge, so please bring me both of them. Bring Ken too, with clothes and suit case. Also a baton. Don’t forget my brother, sister and friends. I love you Santa. –Beth Davis

Dear Santa, My name is Wayne Stutts. I want a bicycle for Christmas. I live at Route 1, Summertown. Please Santa. –Wayne Stutts

Dear Santa, Please stop and see me on Christmas morning. I would like a Thumbelina doll. We have a big chimney for you to come down. Also I have a little brother who wants a guitar. Since I’m only 6 years old my spelling isn’t too good. Hope you can understand it. –Cindy Chandler

Dear Santa, Will you please bring me a bike and tank. I have been a good boy. –Unsigned

December 20, 1973

Dear Santa, I want a rope and a race car. –Love, Brian Shanklin

Dear Santa, I love you. I like Christmas. December is a joyful time. I like the song Deck the Halls and the song Santa Claus is Coming to Town. My name is Jamie. –Your friend, Jamie Crews

Dear Santa Claus, Thank you Santa for everything you have brought me before at Xmas. I’m 6 years old and I want a walkie talkie and a race track. I have a brother who is 9 years old and he wants a tape recorder. Please be good to all the children this year. –Love, Johnny Clayton

Dear Santa, I am 6 years old and in the first grade. I tried to be a good girl. It wasn’t easy. Please, may I have the play family village, a view master projector and screen set, and a child’s typewriter. I would also like a pick up truck and horse trailer for all my toy horses. Thank you. Santa, would you mind staying a little longer at my house? Cause I would like to ride on your reindeer. I love you. –Davina Jackson

Dear Santa Claus, I love you very much. I hope you will bring me some toys for Christmas. And I hope you a Merry Christmas. I want a B.B. gun. The End. –David Webster

Dear Santa, I’ve tried hard to be good this whole year and to obey my mother and father. I am writing so you’ll be sure to remember me on Christmas morning. These are the things I would like to find under my Christmas Tree. I sure hope your factory at the North Pole can make them for me. Clothes, a doll, Snoopie Tooth Brush, Radio, Barbie Doll Clothes. My name is Lee Ann Dugger.

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. I am 7. I like a bike and a pony. –Your friend, Alan

Dear Santa, When you come to my house I want you to leave me a Barbie camper because I wanted a camper all my life because I love to play with Barbie dolls. I will leave you some milk and cookies on the table next to the Christmas tree. –Love, Karen And by the way, I want some Barbies and I hope you have a merry merry Christmas.

Dear Santa, I have been a very good boy. I would like a train and a big driver dashboard. And if you can find me a Winnie-th-Pool Shirt. I would likt to have one. –Your friend, Randall Mitchell

Dear Santa, I would like to have a coat, some shoes and a shirt. I will be happy with anything. –Darrell Shirley

Dear Santa, I am 7 years old and I want a bicycle. Thank you. Santa, please think of all little boys and girls. –Your friend, Gary Don Turner

Dear Santa, I will leave you some cookies and milk. I want a parrot. –John Tracy Webb

Dear Santa, I know you are busy now. Put me on your list and if you have time stop by and see my Grandma and Pa and Sisters. And if you have time see me. –Brian

I want a train for Christmas. And I want to see you. The only week I like is Christmas. And I love you very much. I wish I can see your raindeers. I like you beard very very much. This is the only time I wrote to you. When I was a little boy I was scared of you. Please write back. –Your friend, Dale Floyd

December 22, 1983

Dear Santa, I love you. –Burt

Dear Santa, Please get me a manglor and when you go to get a manglor please put a picture of you in it. I love you, Santa. –Billy Coffey

Dear Santa Claus, I want a Barbie doll, a Raggedy Ann doll, and a battery powered Honda. I love you, Santa, and I will leave you another snack this year. –Love, Amanda Milan

Dear Santa, I want a big truck and I want a Stomper. And I want a big Tonka Truck. All the time I have been good! Merry Christmas! –From Travis Hinson

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. I would like to have a Combat-Jet-Sky Striker, Cobra Command Center, Military Action Set, and some surprises. Thank you, Santa Claus. –Josh Powers

Dear Santa, I love you. I have been good this year. This is what I want for Christmas. Computer, chemistry set and some new cartridges for my Atari. I will leave you some cookies and milk on the TV. –Love, Michelle Williams

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy bring me a radio, T.V., Atari, Mr. T. shirt, E.T. shirt, telephone, stomper set, truck set, watch. –Your friend, Barry Carroll

Dear Santa, I love you! Everybody loves Santa Claus. Please get me a bike and a Baby Skate doll for Christmas. I have been acting good, dear Santa Claus. –Love, Angela Simpson

Dear Santa, Please bring me an electric guitar, drums, castle-grey skull, and a stereo for Christmas. Also He-man, Skeletor, Beastman and Battle Cat. I have been a real good boy and I love you, Santa. –Love, Josh Adair

Dear Santa, This is what I want, a game and a bike and I want toys. –Alyssa to Santa. I love you.

Dear Santa, I love you, Mrs. Claus. For Christmas I want a toy for me to play with that is a gun that shoots iron balls. I want some CANDY in my stocking. Please do that and that is all. –Nathan David Hinson

Dear Santa, I want a doll for Christmas and some skates and a bicycle and stocking full of candy and toys and some clothes and shoes, too. –Santa, from Laketra Harvell

Dear Santa, I like you. You are a nice man. I’m fine. I love you. Teddy Bear for Christmas. Care Bear. I wish you a Merry Christmas, Santa. –Thank you, Katria Cooper

Dear Santa, I wish you a Merry Christmas. –Mark Lovett

Dear Santa, You left a reindeer bell. You will want your reindeer’s bell. If you want this bell, you can have it. –Andrew Norris

December 23, 1993

Dear Santa, I would like I love you. I want toys. He is going to give me some presents. I love you Rudolph very, very much. I love you Santa Claus. I love you. –Brandi Haimann

To Santa from Rocky, I love Santa. I want him to bring me a dirtbike for Christmas plus a Sega a Dallas Cowboys hat. That’s all I want. Please read this. –Rocky Barnes

Dear Santa, My name is Shaina. I am eight years old and I am in the third grade. For Christmas I would like for you to bring me a diamond ring, a Cabbage Patch baby that cries, some crayons, and any surprises you would like to bring me. Merry Christmas. –Love, Shaina Collins

Dear Santa, I want your red nosed reindeer. Please. I want him for a flashlight. I want a bike that looks like a motorcycle and that will start. Please bring my sister Jeanie a treasure bike and burping baby. I love you Santa. If you give me your red nosed reindeer you can have my flashlight. Please wake me up with you come to my house. Be careful giving all the boys and girls toys and don’t let your reindeer get hurt. Me and Sissy will leave you cookies on the table. Please wipe up your mess when you’re done. I love you Santa Claus very much. –Hugs and kisses, Steven Wayne Durham

Dear Santa, What I really want for Christmas is the Tocing Family Dude House. Thank you. –Sarah

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. For Christmas I would like a big, big, big box of Batmans and a blue bicycle and Batplane and I love Santa. –Adam Lynch

Dear Santa, What I really want for Christmas is a horse. Dear Santa, when you go places and let children sit in your lap, do the children get lollypops stuck in your beard? Happy Christmas Santa. Thank you. –Jennifer Leach

Dear Santa, I would like presents. I love you Santa. –Love, Andrew Talley

Dear Santa, My mommy is writing this because I can not write yet. I love you so much. I want a workshop for Christmas. I want a fire truck, too. How are you and Mrs. Claus? How is Rudolph and the other reindeer? Do you see Frosty much? I will leave you milk and cookies. I have been pretty good this year. Could you bring my brother David and my sister Carrie something? They have been pretty good. May God bless you every day. –Love, Aren Ragsdale

Dear Santa, I have been good most of the time. I want baby kittens. I love you Santa. –Love, Cassie

Dear Santa, What I really want for Christmas is a trampoline. Santa, I want to know how do you eat? I just want to know. Thank you. –Amanda Curtis

Dear Santa, Would you get me a Talking Barney and an Aladdin doll. I would also like some dresses and some boots, too. I will leave you some milk and cookies in the kitchen. I love you Santa. –Lindsey Wayland

Dear Santa, What I really want for Christmas is a hay bell. How is Rudolph? Is he flying the sled good? Do the other reindeer like him? Hi, I am 9. I am in second grade. Thank you. –Jeff McCann

Dear Santa, I want to know if you have another Rudolph, but how do you get on the top of the roof? What I really want is a porcelain doll. Thank you. –Callie Entrekin

Dear Santa, Give me a bike. You are nice. You are very nice. I like him. I like Santa. –Love, Dasha Hinson

December 25, 2003

Dear Santa Claus, I love you, would you please bring me Elmo, a Barbie Doll house, My Scene Bratz Head and a disco ball. Don’t forget my sister. My sister loves SpongeBob. Thank you, Santa, and have a nice trip. –Love, Allison Tanner

Dear Santa, I want a gun, toys and dog. That’s all. –Joey Bailey

Dear Santa, My name is Hannah and I am three years old. I have been a good girl this year. For Christmas please leave me a reindeer, candy bar, and a toy. I will leave you some Dora cookies and juicy pop. I will leave the reindeers some dog food. –Love, Hannah Ricketts

Dear Santa, I would like a pig. I also want bed with pigs. –Love, Lou Brewer

Dear Santa, My name is Cole Tinin. I have been trying hard to be good. I want a robot or a Transformer and a great big huge monster truck. I will leave milk and cookies for you. Bring my Mommy and Daddy a toy too. –Love, Cole

Dear Santa, I haven’t been a very good boy, but I will try to be better by Xmas. Please bring me a truck, a Wacky Bop and Elfun. I will leave you lots of milk and some cookies. –Love, Tyler Lee Baker

Dear Santa, I want a Lord of the Rings toy sword, and Indian bow and arrows, and a blue Gameboy. Please bring my brother Caleb a Gameboy too. Don’t forget my brother Joshua and my sister Abbie. Thank you for our presents that we get. –Love, Ethan Brewer

Dear Santa, How are you? I’ve been very good this year. I would like to have a bath set with water beads, hair conditioner, and Barbie soap. I also want a head to put make-up on, a make-up kit, a baby that eats and pees, a radio with a CD player and a Britney Spears CD. I need some more flowers for my Mom and myself to put on my bed. I love you Santa Claus! Thank you very much! Have a safe trip. Kiss Rudolph and the other reindeer, especially Donner for me. –Love, Maysi Brooke Woodham

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy and I love you. Would you please bring my sister Bella some presents? --Noah

Dear Santa, I hope you have had a great year. I can’t wait to see under our tree on Christmas day. Please bring me some of the Bratz I just love them. –Hugs, Taylor Darden

Dear Santa, What I want is a dog. –Noellia Fuentes

Dear Santa, I want a disco ball, the game Trouble, a laptop, some skates, a snowboard, a skateboard, and a mountainboard. –Your friend, Blake

Dear Santa, I am five years old and I have been very good this year. I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one and I wish you a good Christmas. There are very few things I want for Christmas this year. I would like a Cat in the Hat t-shirt, a Cat in the Hat doll with the movie, a Cat in the Hat hat, and a radio. I hope Mrs. Claus makes you some more pepperoni pizza cookies, and a nice tall glass of cold milk. We ate pepperoni/bacon pizza today! I know how you love pizza. –Love, Emily Brake

Dear Santa, I want ten red presents. –Tony Lewis

Merry Christmas to all and may your 2024 be bright, happy, and prosperous.