‘Dear Father Christmas’: Tracing the history of a folkloric custom

• 13/12/2022
• 18:00-19:30
• Online talk

Dr Ceri Houlbrook (University of Hertfordshire) explores the tradition of children writing letters to Santa Claus.

Online talk, Tuesday 13 December 2022, 18:00

This talk traces the history of the folkloric custom of writing letters to Santa Claus and other Western personifications of Christmas. When did it start? Where is it practiced? What folklore surrounds it? And, through this custom, what can we learn about the beliefs and desires of children over the years and around the globe? Fortunately, enough of these letters found their way – via the North Pole, of course – into archives, where they can be used to provide some insights and answer these questions.

Tickets £5.00 (£3.00 for Folklore Society members with Promo Code: log in to the Members Only area to get the Promo Code); to book, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dear-father-christmas-tracing-the-history-of-a-folkloric-custom-tickets-260284537057

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