It happens each year across the world: Children of all ages write letters to the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, in hopes of getting exactly what they want for Christmas.

Another thing that happens each year is our local elementary schools asking their students to do the same thing in the classroom and then allowing their teachers to send those letters to us, along with old St. Nick of course, so we can share them all with you. It’s a time-honored newspaper tradition and one of our favorite things to do each year.

Not only is it fun to keep up with what our local children are excited about finding under the tree from year to year, but we inevitably find ourselves being reminded just what the Christmas season is all about by reading through what they write.

Each year, as we prepare the letters to run in print, we certainly see lots of requests for the newest toys, technology and other sought-after items, but we also see the best in our community when kids ask for things, not for themselves, but for the people in their lives. Whether it is something as simple as a new toy for a brother or sister, a request for Santa to bring something for a parent the child knows he or she won’t buy for themselves, or it’s a heartwarming general request to take care of those in need across the world, selfless wishes are often a part of our Letters to Santa, thanks to the kind spirits of the boys and girls in our community.

If you want to see just what kind of requests the kids had this year, just skip on over to this weekend’s B section and find out, but we can give you sneak preview now by saying the letters are always a testament to the fine jobs our local parents, teachers and other community leaders are doing raising the next generation of Vicksburg and Warren County leaders.

 

There are many sayings and nuggets of wisdom passed down through the years urging us as a society to look to our children’s sense of kindness and wonder for inspiration and guidance on how we as adults should approach the world. Perhaps nowhere is that laid out for us better than in the Bible’s book of Matthew: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Merry Christmas and we hope you enjoy this year’s edition of Letters to Santa.