Because no one has an exact address for Santa Claus children send their letters to several addresses, including the North Pole. But for the past 80 years many children from around the world have sent their wish lists to Santa Claus, In., where area residents open, read and respond to each letter.

The town only sends out about 15,000 letters from Santa a year now, down from a high of 3 million in the 1930's. That is because other places now offer a similar service.

Still Santa Claus Museum Curator Joe Keller says no one has done it longer and their service is free.

Recently Keller stood surrounded by mail and held up letters from babies, octogenarians and families, including letters from China and Taiwan, according to a report in the International Herald-Tribune on Sunday.

Some envelopes contain more than just a letter.

"Pixie dust," Keller said as glitter wafted from one envelope.

Although Keller is only receiving about 15,000 letters a year Anchorage, Alaska received 120,000 letters from 26 countries bound for the North Pole that volunteers answered last year.

"We try to keep the big guy mystical, so we sign off as Santa's elves and helpers," said volunteer Gabby Gaborik.

Volunteers were unable to answer thousands of other letters because they did not have return addresses.