Every year, as the festive season approaches, an unusual phenomenon unfolds on a seemingly ordinary street in New York City. While the famed 34th Street boasts its holiday miracle, a different kind of enchantment, equally mysterious, graces 22nd Street, captivating residents and onlookers alike. This is the tale of the “Street Letters,” hundreds of missives addressed to Santa Claus that inexplicably find their way to a specific apartment on this Manhattan block.
Jim Glaub, a former resident of the apartment, recounts the bewildering beginning of this Yuletide enigma. “Four-hundred letters to Santa were delivered to my apartment, unbeknownst to me,” he explains. Year after year, around the same time, letters intended for the North Pole mysteriously appear at the same address on 22nd Street. The question that lingers, much like the scent of pine needles in December, is why this particular apartment and this specific street? The answer, much like Santa’s journey around the world in a single night, remains elusive.
Adding to the mystique, Glaub points to the street’s historical connection to Christmas lore. “You know, on 22nd Street, it has such a rich history of Christmas,” he notes. “The park across the street is called Clement Clark Moore Park, he was the gentleman who wrote ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and he lived on that street.” This connection to the author of the iconic Christmas poem deepens the intrigue, prompting speculation about whether the tradition of these street letters stretches back centuries. “It was the 1800s, I mean, it was a different time, right? So, had the letters been just coming in since then? That’s part of one of the mysteries of this — had this been going on since that time.”
Nearly fifteen years have passed since Glaub first encountered these unexpected street letters, yet the source and reason behind their arrival remain shrouded in mystery. “People still, to this day, ask me where did the letters come from? And this answer is always the same, I don’t know,” Glaub admits. This enduring enigma has transformed from a personal bewilderment into a captivating piece of New York City folklore. “It’s incredible. So it is very randomly this one apartment, but it’s now sort of come into, like New York lore.”
Initially, the influx of street letters was modest. “It was one letter, it was two,” Glaub recalls. However, the trickle soon turned into a flood. “The next week, it was 10, 15, 30, and then eventually over 400 letters to Santa to our mailbox. It was absolutely overwhelming,” he says. Faced with this deluge of holiday wishes, Glaub and his friends felt compelled to act. “And so when you have something that’s so big and so much, you’re sort of in this moment where you’re like, well, I can either just leave this or you have to take action, right?”
Choosing the latter, Glaub and his friends embarked on a heartwarming mission to fulfill the wishes penned in these street letters. Reading through them, they discovered poignant requests from children and families in need. “Heartbreaking stories of these kids and families that just needed a little bit of extra help,” Glaub shares, highlighting the emotional weight carried within these simple Christmas requests.
This spontaneous act of kindness, born from the mystery of the street letters, has blossomed into something far greater than anyone could have anticipated. It evolved into a registered nonprofit organization named “Miracle on 22nd Street,” a testament to the unexpected magic found within these urban street letters. “Miracle on 22nd Street.”
“And so now, 14 years later, we are still running this organization that connects families in need with real-life elves,” Glaub proudly states. The organization has ingeniously harnessed technology to expand its reach and impact. “We basically got organized and digitized all of the letters and created a website where people can essentially upload their photos, upload their Santa letters, and then get connected with elves through a profile.” Last year alone, “Miracle on 22nd Street” extended its heartwarming assistance to over 1,200 families, spreading Christmas cheer far beyond the confines of 22nd Street.
The street letters themselves are often filled with touching and humble requests. Glaub recounts examples from this year’s collection: “One letter this year was from a 10-year-old girl who was asking for gifts for her little 2-year-old brother and her mom.” Another poignant street letter came from “a mom looking for presents for her two precious sons, because she is out of work.” The simple words of these letters resonate deeply, revealing the genuine needs within the community. “All I want this Christmas is for my sons to have a great Christmas, I would really appreciate it if you’d be able to help me out with clothes, shoes and toys,” Glaub quotes from one letter, encapsulating the heartfelt pleas found within the street letters.
For Glaub, this endeavor is deeply personal, rooted in his own childhood experiences. “I grew up really poor, too,” he reveals. “And I remember there was a Christmas where Santa didn’t stop by, but then later did, and I realized that my parents had done something sort of similar to this. And I was just so grateful that I have the opportunity to do that again.” This personal connection fuels his commitment to ensuring that the magic of Christmas reaches those who need it most, inspired by the unassuming street letters.
Glaub emphasizes the transformative impact of being part of this unfolding Christmas narrative. “It has changed everything,” he reflects. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from this is that you can change things little by little, right? You can’t. You can make a difference in the world just by doing lots of little things.” The street letters, initially a source of confusion, became a catalyst for positive change, demonstrating the power of collective kindness.
Even after moving from the famed apartment, Glaub remains intimately involved, ensuring the legacy of the street letters continues. “Glaub no longer lives in that apartment, so he writes a letter each year to the tenants asking them to save the letters for him so he can help fulfill their wish lists.” The ongoing cooperation of subsequent residents underscores the enchanting allure of the street letters. “And time and time again, all of the people that have lived there have been so bewitched by this,” he notes, highlighting the captivating nature of this Christmas tradition.
In a twist that seems almost scripted for a holiday movie, the current guardian of this Christmas magic shares a name with another iconic Christmas story. “I live in this building on this street, this apartment, and every year I get tons of letters to Santa,” says Virginia, the current resident, sharing her name with the little girl from “Miracle on 34th Street.” This serendipitous connection adds another layer of charm to the tale of the street letters.
Virginia describes the anticipation of the street letters’ arrival. “I usually go see my family for Thanksgiving, and then when I get back from Thanksgiving, I’m like, this is it, I get to open up my mailbox and there’s going to be something in there. And then I immediately text Jim and send him the first one,” she explains, highlighting the ongoing partnership in this heartwarming endeavor.
One street letter, in particular, deeply resonated with Virginia, encapsulating the emotional depth found within these simple requests. “So I got this one two years ago, and I kept it and, I mean, I read it every year,” Virginia shares. The letter, addressed to “the Clauses,” poignantly expresses a mother’s hope for a touch of Christmas magic for her son struggling with a broken heart. “‘Dear Santa and helpers. This is a long shot, but I wanted at least to try. I am writing in hopes of some kind of Christmas cheer for my son’s spirit, which is crushed… We do not need fancy shoes or Xbox games, just some Christmas magic. He is a sweet boy who has a broken heart and spirit. I want to show him that our lives can be rich, even if our wallet is not. Please find it in your hearts for a card in a word of encouragement, he does not hear from his dad much, and since he left in September, I want him to know that he is not forgotten, that good things do happen to good people, and that the world still has good people in it. God bless, Merry Christmas. Tanya.'” This powerful street letter exemplifies the profound human stories embedded within this New York City Christmas tradition.
The captivating and unexplained nature of this New York City story, originating from simple street letters, has even captured the attention of Hollywood. “I remember getting a message from Tina Fey that was like, ‘Jim, it’s Tina Fey, I love your story. I want to turn it into a movie,'” Glaub recounts with a hint of disbelief. “So she’s been writing this movie for a very long time, and it’s essentially this origin story of these letters. I mean, how New York is that? Right? Tina Fey writing the next Christmas classic,” he adds, highlighting the almost unbelievable trajectory of this local phenomenon.
Perhaps the true miracle of 22nd Street, sparked by these mysterious street letters, lies not in solving the enigma, but in recognizing the power of human connection and small acts of kindness. “No one can change the world, but you can make it a little better just by doing something small,” Glaub concludes. “Everyone deserves to have that little bit of magic. Christmas is so extremely memorable for us as kids,” he adds, emphasizing the universal desire for holiday enchantment. “Even if you’ve had a really bad year, you can always look forward to the magic of Christmas. Everyone’s a little happier, and you can finally feel like you’ve ended the year on a little bit of sparkle.”
Ultimately, the tale of the street letters embodies the very essence of New York City and the holiday spirit. “It really is. It’s that magic we, New York, love — like such a strange group of people that have come together and like trying to make it in this crazy town, and then, really, all we want is just a little bit of magic and a miracle,” Glaub beautifully summarizes, capturing the heart of this urban Christmas miracle born from unassuming street letters.
