Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for your support over the years. I am always made to feel welcome in your homes – glasses of milk or something stronger, cookies or slices of Christmas cake, oats for my reindeer…

However, there’s something I’ve been uncomfortable with that has built up over the years. Despite only leaving one or two small presents in each child’s stocking, children are crediting me with huge mountains of expensive presents. The parents are misguidedly thinking it’s a good idea to give all the credit to me. You need to understand two things:

I only give a couple of small presents to each child. Please do not pretend all the presents are from me. If children whose parents cannot afford to buy tonnes of presents think Santa doesn’t like them as much as rich kids, this is very damaging.Children need to understand who is spending money on them and be grateful for whatever that parent can afford. Whether it’s big or small. They need to understand that it is not the value of the presents but the thought that goes into them, for them to grow up to be appreciative, decent adults.

I have a small favour to ask: When posting your proud photographs of your children on social media on Christmas morning, in the spirit of Christmas, can you please photograph your child with one favourite present rather than a mountain of unwrapped presents. This way children and parents do not feel pressured to spend money they do not have on things their children do not want.

Thank you for your understanding,

Santa

(Aka Father Christmas / Saint Nicholas)