Letters to Santa is a sweet, child-like Christmas theme that The Trend Curve highlighted last in our 2012 color-and-trend forecast, ‘Tis The Season. For 2022, it is making a comeback. In fact, at Christmasworld in Frankfurt and at the Atlanta Gift Market, this theme was just emerging (we posted about it on The Trend Curve’s Instagram in January).
What distinguishes the 2022 version from the look in 2012? Two elements separate them as much as the years in between:
- Words vs. Postmarks
- North Pole vs. Paris
The last take on this trend was driven by postmarks from Paris. Highly decorative stamps with black-and-white-photo Eiffel Tower motifs, old-fashioned Christmas trees and pictures of Santa from long ago rounded out the mix of motifs. Flowing handwriting, typically in French, was another hallmark.
In the updated trend it’s all about getting wish lists to the North Pole. Mailboxes are key items and motifs. Whether crafted in metal, resin or ceramic, each one is decorated with a phrase like North Pole Post, Santa Mail or Letters For Santa, ensuring that only messages for the Jolly Old Soul are placed inside. Boxes stand on posts like those outside suburban homes, or they mimic USPS mailboxes found on city street corners, but in red and white, not red, white and blue.
Yes, there are postmarks on envelopes, but the words that also appear mean so much more. Envelopes say North Pole Postal Service, Dear Santa: Define Good, or Santa Express. Fonts are a mix of printing and cursive for visual variety.
Mail bags play a supporting role, but again, words make a difference. Made of cotton, canvas or even velvet, these bags say North Pole Mail Service or Reindeer Airmail, or they have tags reading Checked Twice or Do Not Open Before 25th December. Street signs identify Frosty Ave. or Gnome Blvd. so letters are sure to get to the right place.
Look below for more images of the 2022 version of the Letters to Santa trend.
