✉️ Sending a Letter to Santa at the North Pole
A Magical Tradition for International Families in Nerja and Beyond
Every Christmas, something beautiful happens in homes all around the world. Children settle down with coloured pencils, parents help fold festive paper, and somewhere between excitement and concentration, a little letter begins its journey.
All the way to Rovaniemi, Finland - Santa’s official hometown on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Or the Spanish way to the Three Kings!
In Spain, Christmas has two joyful characters — but they don’t play the same role. Santa Claus is a newer arrival in Spanish homes. Children may see him in shops and some families give a small gift on Christmas Eve, especially in bigger cities or international households. He’s festive and fun, but he isn’t the star of the season.
The true tradition revolves around Los Reyes Magos, the Three Kings. Spanish children write their letters to Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar in late December and wait all month for their arrival. On the night of 5 January, every town holds a Cabalgata, a colourful parade where the Kings arrive throwing sweets to the crowds. Children leave their shoes out with a little water for the camels and wake up on 6 January (Día de Reyes) to find their presents. Families then share the Roscón de Reyes, a sweet crown-shaped cake with a hidden surprise inside.
Because of this, the real excitement in Spain comes after Christmas and the festive season feels longer and more magical. Santa may stop by, but the Three Kings are the ones children dream about. Many towns and the national postal service Correos also operate “magic” letter boxes (buzones mágicos) in post-offices for children to drop their letters in rather than having to address anywhere exact.
But many families — especially those with international roots — like to include Santa as well, so children familiar with him feel part of the magic without forgetting the Spanish tradition. Hence, we are including the Santa Tradition!
Here in Nerja, where the sun still shines even in December, the idea of snow-covered Lapland feels wonderfully far away and dreamy. And maybe that’s why the tradition of writing to Santa feels extra magical. It connects our warm Mediterranean Christmas with the deep, snowy stillness of the North.
🎅 A Place Where Christmas Lives All Year
In Rovaniemi, Christmas doesn’t simply arrive in December - it’s always there. The Santa Claus Main Post Office sits right on the Arctic Circle, surrounded by twinkling lights, wooden cabins, and the crisp, snowy silence of Lapland.
Inside, Santa’s elves sort through thousands of letters sent from every corner of the world. Stacks of drawings, carefully written wishes, stories, hopes, and sometimes even secrets.
Visitors say it’s impossible not to smile when you step inside, the scent of pine, the sound of stamping letters with the famous Arctic Circle postmark, and the feeling that you’ve stepped into one of the world’s last pockets of pure magic.
📝 What to Include in Your Letter
One of the loveliest things about writing to Santa is how personal it becomes.
Some children fill their letters with drawings, others with lists. Some write about school, friends, pets, or things they’ve learned this year. A few even slip in a wish for their parents or grandparents.
If you’re helping little ones write, you can guide them with gentle prompts:
Tell Santa ( or the Three Kings) your name, age, and where you live
Share something kind or helpful you’ve done
Mention what has made you happy this year
And of course, add your Christmas wishes
And for grown-ups - yes, you can write too. Many adults send letters filled with gratitude, hopes for the new year, or simply a quiet message to honour the child within.
💫 A Winter Tradition Worth Keeping
Writing a letter to Santa or Three Kings isn’t really about presents. It’s about pausing.
Sitting together.
Telling stories from the year.
Remembering the small acts of kindness that children often forget but parents never do.
It’s about lighting a candle, putting on a Christmas song, and creating a moment where everything feels soft and hopeful. Here in Nerja, with the sea outside and fairy lights inside, it becomes a beautiful mix — our Andalusian warmth paired with the deep Nordic winter.
Even if you never visit Lapland, sending a letter there brings a piece of it straight into your home.
📍 Address & Contact Details
Santa Claus
Santa Claus’ Main Post Office
Tähtikuja 1
96930 Arctic Circle
Finland
Tips; If you wish your child or grandchild to receive a reply with a North Pole stamp - check out Santa´s Post Office!
