When Holly Durham opens her front-yard mailbox, the entire Buda neighborhood knows it’s almost Christmas.
The Tradition Begins
For six consecutive years, the 62-year-old has transformed her front yard into a holiday hub, inviting children to write to Santa.
The mailbox, set up each year, has become a familiar sight for families and a way for kids to share their holiday wishes.
Record-Breaking Letters
This year the mailbox was up for roughly two weeks, and Durham noted that the volume of letters exceeded her previous record by more than 200.
“Last year it was over 800,” Durham said over text message Tuesday.
“This year I stopped counting when it went past 1000!”
From Santa to the Grinch
Durham has taken on the role of Santa’s assistant, replying to nearly all of the hundreds of letters that come in from the neighborhood.
When the mailbox closed, she turned the tables, dressing in green and fur as the Grinch to remind everyone that the holiday spirit is shared by all.
Community Impact
Before shutting it down, she spread holiday cheer to more than a thousand members of her community, ensuring the tradition left a lasting impression.
She lives in the Sunfield community in Buda, a neighborhood that has grown around her festive contributions.
Key Takeaways
- Holly Durham has hosted a Letters to Santa mailbox for six years.
- This year the mailbox received over 1,000 letters, a record by more than 200.
- She closed the mailbox wearing a Grinch costume, spreading cheer to more than a thousand community members.
As the mailbox disappears for the season, the community looks forward to the next year’s letters, a testament to the enduring joy of holiday traditions.
