In the early 20th century, Christmas had become a big business.

Christmas was becoming highly commercialized and the Santa Claus that we know today was being established.

And it was during that time that one man saw an opportunity. He was able to fill a gap in the market in answering the letters that children were sending to Santa.

It was an incredible success, it was incredibly popular, and it was ultimately a giant scam.

Learn more about John Duval Guck and the Santa Claus Association

on this episode of Everything everywhere daily. Podpoint was founded in 2009 and they've worked with Barclays at every stage of their journey.

With our business funding support, they've gone from startup

to operating one of the largest networks of electric vehicle charging points in the UK.

We even helped coordinate and sponsor their IPO.

You have arrived at the London Stock Exchange.

Grow your business. Bank on Barclays.

Search Barclays Business Banking. Grow your business. Bank on Barclays.

Search Barclays business banking.

There are many Christmas traditions which have developed over the centuries,

and one of these traditions is children writing letters to Santa Claus.

Santa letter writing is something that dates back to the early 19th century.

And actually, these first letters were usually from Santa, not to Santa.

Parents would often send letters to their children under the guise of Santa to encourage them to be good.

The earliest reference we have of Santa sending letters to children dates back to 1820.

The writer Theodore Ledyard Kyler reminisced about his childhood when he noted he, quote,

once received an autograph letter from Santa Claus, full of good counsels.

Likewise, Fanny Longfellow, the wife of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote her children letters from Santa.

...