A 1940s Letter to Santa: A Wartime Christmas Wish

Christmas in the 1940s looked very different from the celebrations we know today. With rationing in full force, families separated by service, and make‑do‑and‑mend at the heart of daily life, children’s letters to Santa were often simple, heartfelt, and full of hope.

This reimagined 1940s letter captures the spirit of a wartime Christmas — modest wishes, treasured traditions, and the unshakeable belief that Santa would still find his way, even in the darkest of winters.

A 1940s Letter to Santa

Dear Father Christmas,

I hope you are keeping well and that the reindeer are warm. Mum says it has been a very cold winter, so I hope you have plenty of coal for your fire.

I have tried very hard to be good this year. I help Mum with the washing and I look after my little sister when she cries. Dad is away with the Army, but he says in his letters that he is proud of us.

For Christmas, I don’t need very much. If you can, I would like:

• A new pencil for school
• A small book to read
• Some chocolate if there is any to spare
• And maybe an orange, because we haven’t had one for ages

Please could you also bring something nice for Mum. She works very hard and never asks for anything.

If Dad can’t come home this Christmas, please keep him safe.

Thank you very much, Father Christmas.

Love from, Elsie (aged 8)

What Christmas Was Really Like for Children in the 1940s

A letter like this reflects the reality of wartime Britain:

Rationing shaped every wish

Sugar, chocolate, oranges, toys, and even paper were scarce. Children often asked for:

• Pencils
• Books
• Socks
• A single sweet treat
• Handmade toys

Families were separated

Many children wrote to Santa asking for:

• A parent’s safe return
• A letter from a loved one
• Peace

Make‑do‑and‑mend ruled the season

Decorations were homemade from:

• Newspaper
• Scraps of fabric
• Cardboard
• Saved ribbons

Gifts were often knitted, stitched, or carved at home.

Yet Christmas spirit stayed strong

Despite blackouts and shortages, families still:

• Sang carols
• Attended church
• Shared ration‑friendly treats
• Hung stockings
• Listened to the wireless together

For more bygone festive nostalgia, explore the 1920s Top 10 Music Chart or Fabulous Fun UK Games of the 1920s.

Recreate a 1940s Christmas at Home

Bring the charm of a wartime Christmas into your own celebrations with simple, nostalgic touches:

• Vintage‑style toys
• Make‑do‑and‑mend craft kits
• Retro radios or gramophone‑style speakers
• Classic board games like Ludo or Snakes & Ladder
• Wartime recipe books for ration‑friendly baking