By Andy Zimmer Oral storytelling has long played a central role in winter holiday traditions across cultures. Before widespread literacy and print culture, spoken narratives were one of the primary ways communities preserved history, conveyed values, and strengthened social bonds. The winter season—marked by longer nights, reduced labor, and increased indoor gathering—provided an ideal environment for these practices to flourish. Within this broader seasonal context, Christma

By Andy Zimmer For many children, writing a letter to Santa Claus is one of the earliest experiences they have with intentional writing. It blends imagination with communication, belief with ritual, and storytelling with real-world action. While it often feels timeless, the tradition of writing letters to Santa is a relatively modern practice shaped by literacy, culture, and changing ideas about childhood. Understanding where this tradition comes from reveals how deeply it is