Seeing isn't Believing but Believing is Seeing
Whether known as Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Babbo Natale, Père Noël or Santa Claus, this legendary gift-giver is well-known around the world.
Along with an annual visit to sit on Santa's lap to tell him of their heartfelt desires, the tradition of writing a letter to Santa has been in practice for generations around the globe. Every year, children all over the world write their letters to Santa professing their good behavior throughout the year, testaments of minding mom and dad, and hoping that Santa will reward them with their wish list of toys.
The children of West Tennessee are no different, and although their letters and demands have changed through the decades, their dreams and wishes are still the same.
The belief in Santa helps them to believe in goodness and hope, motivating them to never give up... that anything is possible. Children learn that the invisible magic of the world is what helps make it more bearable and that seeing isn't be believing but believing is seeing.
Along with an annual visit to sit on Santa's lap to tell him of their heartfelt desires, the tradition of writing a letter to Santa has been in practice for generations around the globe. Every year, children all over the world write their letters to Santa professing their good behavior throughout the year, testaments of minding mom and dad, and hoping that Santa will reward them with their wish list of toys.
The children of West Tennessee are no different, and although their letters and demands have changed through the decades, their dreams and wishes are still the same.
The belief in Santa helps them to believe in goodness and hope, motivating them to never give up... that anything is possible. Children learn that the invisible magic of the world is what helps make it more bearable and that seeing isn't be believing but believing is seeing.
Dear Santa Claus:
I love you very much. I want you to bring me a heap of things Christmas. I want a bridle. I have a saddle. My little brother Charlie wants a rocking horse. I hope your cotton crop was not like all the crops around here - short. This is what my papa says about his crop. Although I am only eight years old I have a little baby nephew. He wants a rattle. I forgot, I want some marbles and a pair of martin gails, and a heap, heap, heap of things, and oh! oh! fire crackers and anything you can get, and good things like little boys like to eat. Oh! I do wish Christmas was here right now. If it is cold I will have a big fire for you. I hope it will snow so you can come on your sleigh. Your boy, Robert W. Smith.
Memphis Daily Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) Dec. 14, 1884
Dear Santa Claus, I have been a good boy. I want a cowboy suit and a pencil box, and I want a pair of gloves and a ruler about 12 inches long, and I want an Army Air set, and a baseball and bat, and a doctor's set. Your little friend, Billy Wayne Weaver, Rt. 1, Jackson, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec, 13, 1944
Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy, won't be a year old until January 1, but want you to bring me a lot of things for Christmas. First, a snow suit, a big micky mouse, top, drum, and wagon. But most of all an automobile I can ride in so I won't have to have my auntie leave her work to take me riding. Be good to all the other little girls and boys, and I will be looking for you Christmas Eve. Buford Wayne Ranson, 264. North Liberty.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 3, 1936
Dear Santa, I am a little boy just six years old and have been very smart helping Grandpa cut wood and making Grandma good fires. Bow I want you to cram my sock from the top to the toe. I will place a box near the fire side for you put my big toys in as I want you to bring me a gun, toolbox, red wagon, and a Buick car now Santa please bring me the things I have asked for, for if you dont I will be a disappointed lad on Xmas morning and Santa please dont forget the Dear little Orphan children. Now Santa I will go by asking you to bring Virginia Nell a Doll so by by. From Cecil S. Brammer.
The Covington Leader (Covington, Tenn.) Dec. 20, 1922
Dear Santa, I am a little girl 5 years old. I have been a good little girl. I want a rocker, doll, house shoes, blackboard, set of dishes and nuts and fruits. Santa don't forget my little cousin J. T. Kolwyck, who is spending the night with me tonight. He is 4 years old, he has a little brother 2 weeks old, don't forget him either. J. T. wants a knife, a wagon, a little truck, fruit, nuts and candy. WIll my love Patsy Allen. Humbolt, Tenn. Ps. Don't forget all the boys in service.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 13, 1944
Dear Santa, I go to school at West Jackson but the building is being torn down and I have to go to school at West Jackson Baptist Church and I have a fine teacher, Miss Stone, and I hope you remember her too. I want you to bring me a Betsy Wetsy doll and a pencil box and lots of fruits, nuts and candy. Kathryn Shires, Jackson
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 11, 1938
Dear Santa, Gee! It has been a long time since you were here. Santa, I promise I will be a better boy next year, so I want you to bring me a pair of skates, a bicycle, a size 26 satchel, and some kind of a game that I can play with in the house. Remember all the other little boys and girls and carry them as much. I will always be your boy and looking for you every year. Bobby Senter, Medina, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 3, 1936
Dear Santa Clouse - How are you fine I hope I am a little boy 8 years old I want a air rifer and a tool box and lots of fruits. Therman Turnage, Munford, Tenn.
The Covington Leader (Covington, Tenn.) Dec. 20, 1922
Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a kite, an automobile, a top, a ball, a harp and some a b c blocks, and I want some candy, apple, oranges, bannas and nuts – Big Charlie Brooks.
The Dresden Enterprise and Sharon Tribune (Weakley, Tenn.) Dec. 24, 1915
Dear Santa Claus, I am a little girl nine years old. I have three brothers. Thomas Earl wants a stroller. Charles wants a tricycle. Kenneth wants a tram and a coloring book, and a book satchel. I want a book satchel that goes on my back and a little sewing machine.
Bring us plenty of nuts and fruits and candy. Don't forget Daddy and Mother, Mama Carnell and Papa Fred, and Mama and Papa Wyatt. Santa look on the dining table and get you a piece of cake.
Hoping you and Mrs. Santa Clause a Merry Christmas. Love Betty Jean Wyatt, Jackson, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 11, 1938
Dear old Santa Claus: Will you please bring me a doll that has curly hair and opens and shuts its eyes, some rasins, apples, candy, oranges, bannas, and lemons and all kinds of nuts, - Annie Skagg.
The Dresden Enterprise and Sharon Tribune (Weakley, Tenn.) Dec. 24, 1915
I love you very much. I want you to bring me a heap of things Christmas. I want a bridle. I have a saddle. My little brother Charlie wants a rocking horse. I hope your cotton crop was not like all the crops around here - short. This is what my papa says about his crop. Although I am only eight years old I have a little baby nephew. He wants a rattle. I forgot, I want some marbles and a pair of martin gails, and a heap, heap, heap of things, and oh! oh! fire crackers and anything you can get, and good things like little boys like to eat. Oh! I do wish Christmas was here right now. If it is cold I will have a big fire for you. I hope it will snow so you can come on your sleigh. Your boy, Robert W. Smith.
Memphis Daily Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) Dec. 14, 1884
Dear Santa Claus, I have been a good boy. I want a cowboy suit and a pencil box, and I want a pair of gloves and a ruler about 12 inches long, and I want an Army Air set, and a baseball and bat, and a doctor's set. Your little friend, Billy Wayne Weaver, Rt. 1, Jackson, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec, 13, 1944
Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy, won't be a year old until January 1, but want you to bring me a lot of things for Christmas. First, a snow suit, a big micky mouse, top, drum, and wagon. But most of all an automobile I can ride in so I won't have to have my auntie leave her work to take me riding. Be good to all the other little girls and boys, and I will be looking for you Christmas Eve. Buford Wayne Ranson, 264. North Liberty.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 3, 1936
Dear Santa, I am a little boy just six years old and have been very smart helping Grandpa cut wood and making Grandma good fires. Bow I want you to cram my sock from the top to the toe. I will place a box near the fire side for you put my big toys in as I want you to bring me a gun, toolbox, red wagon, and a Buick car now Santa please bring me the things I have asked for, for if you dont I will be a disappointed lad on Xmas morning and Santa please dont forget the Dear little Orphan children. Now Santa I will go by asking you to bring Virginia Nell a Doll so by by. From Cecil S. Brammer.
The Covington Leader (Covington, Tenn.) Dec. 20, 1922
Dear Santa, I am a little girl 5 years old. I have been a good little girl. I want a rocker, doll, house shoes, blackboard, set of dishes and nuts and fruits. Santa don't forget my little cousin J. T. Kolwyck, who is spending the night with me tonight. He is 4 years old, he has a little brother 2 weeks old, don't forget him either. J. T. wants a knife, a wagon, a little truck, fruit, nuts and candy. WIll my love Patsy Allen. Humbolt, Tenn. Ps. Don't forget all the boys in service.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 13, 1944
Dear Santa, I go to school at West Jackson but the building is being torn down and I have to go to school at West Jackson Baptist Church and I have a fine teacher, Miss Stone, and I hope you remember her too. I want you to bring me a Betsy Wetsy doll and a pencil box and lots of fruits, nuts and candy. Kathryn Shires, Jackson
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 11, 1938
Dear Santa, Gee! It has been a long time since you were here. Santa, I promise I will be a better boy next year, so I want you to bring me a pair of skates, a bicycle, a size 26 satchel, and some kind of a game that I can play with in the house. Remember all the other little boys and girls and carry them as much. I will always be your boy and looking for you every year. Bobby Senter, Medina, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 3, 1936
Dear Santa Clouse - How are you fine I hope I am a little boy 8 years old I want a air rifer and a tool box and lots of fruits. Therman Turnage, Munford, Tenn.
The Covington Leader (Covington, Tenn.) Dec. 20, 1922
Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a kite, an automobile, a top, a ball, a harp and some a b c blocks, and I want some candy, apple, oranges, bannas and nuts – Big Charlie Brooks.
The Dresden Enterprise and Sharon Tribune (Weakley, Tenn.) Dec. 24, 1915
Dear Santa Claus, I am a little girl nine years old. I have three brothers. Thomas Earl wants a stroller. Charles wants a tricycle. Kenneth wants a tram and a coloring book, and a book satchel. I want a book satchel that goes on my back and a little sewing machine.
Bring us plenty of nuts and fruits and candy. Don't forget Daddy and Mother, Mama Carnell and Papa Fred, and Mama and Papa Wyatt. Santa look on the dining table and get you a piece of cake.
Hoping you and Mrs. Santa Clause a Merry Christmas. Love Betty Jean Wyatt, Jackson, Tenn.
The Jackson Sun (Jackson, Tenn.) Dec. 11, 1938
Dear old Santa Claus: Will you please bring me a doll that has curly hair and opens and shuts its eyes, some rasins, apples, candy, oranges, bannas, and lemons and all kinds of nuts, - Annie Skagg.
The Dresden Enterprise and Sharon Tribune (Weakley, Tenn.) Dec. 24, 1915
