Father Christmas and Kersvader: who brings the presents in South Africa

One country, two names for the figure

In English the figure is Father Christmas or Santa Claus. In Afrikaans he is Kersvader, literally Christmas father. Both names are in everyday use, and which one a family says follows the language spoken at home.

Holidays: 25 and 26 December 2026

Christmas Day is Friday 25 December 2026. The Day of Goodwill, the name given to 26 December in 1994 in place of Boxing Day, falls on Saturday 26 December. The substitute rule on the government's public holidays page covers only a holiday that falls on a Sunday, so no weekday is added this year. Taking Monday 28 December as leave gives a long break.

The school calendar published by the Department of Basic Education also lists 26 December as the Day of Goodwill for 2026.

Letters to Santa

South Africa has no published national post office programme that answers children's letters to Father Christmas. The free letter generator on this site prints a blank letter for a child to write and makes a reply with the child's name.

Christmas holidays 2026/27 in South Africa

The dates a family in South Africa plans around, with weekdays.

Sun 29 Nov, 6, 13, 20 Dec

The four Advent Sundays.

Thu 24 Dec

Christmas Eve. Some families open presents this evening.

Fri 25 Dec

Christmas Day, public holiday.

Sat 26 Dec

Day of Goodwill, public holiday. No weekday substitute.

Mon 28 Dec

Ordinary working day; many take leave.

Check the official gazette for any change. Read 28 October 2026.

South African Government: public holidays · Department of Basic Education: 2026 school calendar

Booking a visit

Kersvader

4 392–5 063 R

24 December

A summer job worked in multi-week stints across malls and private bookings, arranged through general entertainer directories rather than any national Santa brand.

Marketplace averages: about R5,060 in Cape Town, R4,390 in Johannesburg, R4,500 in Pretoria, for Santa bookings in general rather than home visits alone. Performers themselves are reported to earn R250–500 a day, so most of the fee stays with the agency.

No operator found names a lead time.

GigHeaven — Santa, Cape Town · Good Things Guy — South African Santas

Letter to Santa

Print a blank letter for your child to write, or make a reply from Santa with your child's name: free, no sign-up, all in your browser.