It's already time to think about gifts under the tree.
The famous secretariat of Santa Claus, installed by La Poste in Libourne (Gironde), opens its doors this Tuesday, for the 60th year.
Children who want to send their Christmas list directly to the principal concerned can do so until December 20.
Children can write to Santa Claus in two ways: either by opting for a traditional letter or electronically, La Poste said on Monday.
If they opt for the first method, just write "Santa Claus" on the envelope - without forgetting their address on the back, to be sure of receiving a response - and there is no need for a stamp.
Otherwise, children can go to the pere-noel.laposte.fr website by choosing “write to Father Christmas”.
Read also“A pill of sweetness”: Christmas films, the successful chestnut tree that the chains slip under the tree
Father Christmas and his sixty or so elves - volunteer postal workers and temporary workers - undertake to respond free of charge, in French or in English, to all children and classes.
They "will receive a beautiful letter from Santa Claus accompanied by a coloring postcard that they can send to their family and friends", specifies La Poste in a press release.
From 5000 to 1.2 million letters
Last year, the public group received 1.2 million letters addressed to Santa Claus, according to a spokeswoman.
Initiated in 1962, this free PTT service had at the time received 5,000 letters from children, who had in return found in their mailbox a standard response written by the famous pediatrician and psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto, who was the sister of the Minister of Post Jacques Marette.
“My darling child, your kind letter gave me great pleasure.
I send you my portrait.
You see the postman found me, he's very smart.
I received a lot of orders.
I don't know if I can bring you what you asked for.
I'll try, but I'm (very) old and sometimes I'm wrong, you have to forgive me.
Be wise, work well.
I'm kissing you strongly.
Santa Claus,” he wrote.
The minister had taken this initiative after learning that two postwomen, Odette Ménager in Nueil-sur-Layon (Maine-et-Loire) and Magdeleine Homo in Veules-les-Roses (Seine-Maritime), themselves answered the letters sent to Santa Claus, told La Poste.
