The letter that asked for you

Every other Christmas card says Merry Christmas. This one tells the person you're sending it to that somebody once wished for them, and that the somebody was you. Pick who they are to you and the child's wish, Santa's note and the message are written for that relationship. Or write every word yourself.

1. 1

   The book

   It opens as a storybook with their name on the cover. Tap the wax seal — it breaks, the cover swings back, and the first page is a child's bedroom on Christmas Eve.

2. 2

   The letter

   A desk lamp, a child with a pencil. The letter writes itself above them, line by line, and it asks for nothing. Up onto the chair, the window opens — and they tap to send it.

3. 3

   The North Pole

   Past the roofs, the clouds and the aurora, a page turns, and it lands in Santa's lap. Tap, and he slides his glasses down and reads, a line at a time. It gets to him.

4. 4

   The sleigh

   Four reindeer, bells, the moon, snow streaking past, and down toward one small lit window in the town.

5. 5

   Shh

   He tiptoes into the dark bedroom. Tap the table and he leaves the box and a note by the sleeping child, tucks the blanket, looks at you, and is gone.

6. 6

   Christmas morning

   The child wakes, reads the note in red ink, and they tap to open the box: the tag carries their name. Then the card itself, a sheet of paper with the greeting written by hand, your message, your photos on a string of lights.

• Written for the relationship

  Pick mum, dad, both parents, a partner, a best friend, a sister, a brother, grandparents, your own child, your team, or anyone. The child's wish, Santa's note and the message change with your choice.

• The child is you

  Seven children to choose from. The letter is signed with your name, age 7, and the last page can say so: that child was me. Or turn the reveal off for a simple Merry Christmas.

• Every word can be yours

  Leave the letter and the message blank and the story fills them in. Or write the wish as a seven-year-old would, and the message as yourself.

• A storybook, not a slideshow

  It opens as a book with their name on the cover and every scene is a page turned: the writing, the window, the North Pole, the sleigh, the delivery and the morning. Paper-cut characters, camera moves, a letter that writes itself, Santa who reads and is moved.

• They take part

  Four moments wait for a tap: sending the letter, letting Santa read it, leaving the gift, opening the box. Each happens by itself after a few seconds, so the story also plays straight through. Turn the taps off in the editor for a pure film.

• Your photos on the lights

  Up to three photos pegged to a string of Christmas lights on the last page, with a caption each. The receiver taps the bulbs to light them.

• Sound, without files

  A pencil on paper, the wind, sleigh bells, the fire, a soft bell for each bulb, all made in the browser. Add a track from the music library in the editor, or leave it quiet.

• Plays itself

  Sent on WhatsApp it plays from the first tap to the end in about ninety seconds. The receiver can tap to skip ahead; the recorder plays it through for a video.

• One link, anywhere

  Share a private link on WhatsApp, iMessage, email or Teams. It opens in any browser on any phone, nothing to install. Or export a 9:16 video for a story.

• Merry Christmas. I never found the right way to say it, so I asked Santa.
• You spent every Christmas making ours magic and never kept any for yourself. This one is for you.
• Somewhere between the bad ideas and the better ones, you became the one I call first. Merry Christmas.
• Every Christmas since, I waited. Then one year you were there. You were the wish.
• We fought over everything and shared everything anyway. There is nobody I'd rather have grown up beside.
• Thank you for a year of hard work, good humour and shared biscuits. Have a restful break and a very Merry Christmas.

Messages for mum, dad, a partner, a best friend, siblings, grandparents, your own child and your team in the Christmas messages post.

• 

  Dear Santa — The Letter

• 

  Christmas Tree Magic

• 

  Snow Globe

What is the Dear Santa card?

An animated Christmas story that ends as a greeting card. A child writes to Santa on Christmas Eve and asks for nothing: the letter is a wish for the person you're sending the card to. Santa reads it, flies out, and leaves a box by the sleeping child. In the morning the box carries their name, and the last page is your Merry Christmas, your message and your photos.

Who is the child in the story?

You. The letter is signed with your name, age 7, and the last page can reveal it: that child was me. You pick which of seven children plays you. If you'd rather keep it a simple Merry Christmas, turn the reveal off in the editor.

Can I use it for a friend or a colleague, not just family?

Yes. Choose Best friend, Team or Anyone and the wish, the note and the message are written for that. The Anyone version is a warm Merry Christmas that works for a colleague, a neighbour, a client or a cousin, and still has the story.

Can I write the letter myself?

Yes. The letter field takes about 220 characters after Dear Santa, and the message field about 360. Write the letter as a seven-year-old would (short sentences, one wish) and the message as yourself. Leave either blank and the story fills it in for your relationship.

How long does it play?

About ninety seconds from the first tap to the last page, which stays on screen. Four moments wait for the receiver's tap (sending the letter, letting Santa read it, leaving the gift, opening the box) and happen by themselves after a few seconds if they only watch. A tap anywhere else skips to the next scene. Exported as a video it runs straight through.

Does it have sound?

Yes, two kinds. The story's own sounds, a pencil, the wind, sleigh bells, the fire, are made in the browser and need no files. On top of that it opens on a soft cinematic track from the music library; in the editor you can change the track, turn it off, or add a voice note.

What do I need to make it?

Two names. Everything else is optional: the relationship (it defaults to Anyone), the child, the letter, the message, up to three photos with captions, the greeting (Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël) and two colours.

Is it free?

Building, previewing and sharing the link are free. Premium removes the watermark and unlocks the video download; the price is shown in the editor in your currency.

How do I send a Christmas card on WhatsApp?

Make the card, tap Share, and paste the private link into the chat or the family group. It opens in the phone's browser, portrait and full screen, with sound after the first tap; nothing to install. For a status or a story, export the 9:16 video instead.

Can I add their name and a photo?

Yes. Their name appears on the book's cover, the gift tag, Santa's note and the last page; your name signs the letter. Up to three photos with captions are pegged to the string of lights on the final page, and the receiver taps the bulbs to light them.

Is this a good Christmas card for someone far away?

It was written for that. The child asks Santa for the person, not for a present; Santa delivers something that doesn't fit in a box. For long distance, pick the relationship, add two or three old photos, and send the link on Christmas Eve, their time.

Can I send it instead of a gift?

Many people do, with the note 'this one doesn't fit in a box'. The card takes three minutes to make and ninety seconds to watch, carries their name on the cover and the tag, and ends with your words. Add the gift later, or let this be it.

Does it work on a laptop as well as a phone?

Yes. On a phone it plays portrait and full screen. On a laptop the same card plays widescreen, like a short film, with more of the night sky and the room visible. Sent to a work email or Teams, it opens in the browser.

When is Christmas 2026?

Christmas Day is Friday, 25 December 2026; Christmas Eve is Thursday the 24th. The card's story is set on Christmas Eve at 11:48 pm, so that evening is the natural time to send it. Boxing Day is Saturday the 26th.

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