WRITING letters to Father Christmas has long been a tradition amongst young children, as much as leaving out a carrot for Rudolf and a mince pie for the man himself.

But what about their parents? A pen company, Uniball, is aiming to revive the lost art of handwriting letters through the launch of National Letter Writing Day on December 1, encouraging parents to write to family and friends whilst the children compose their Christmas lists.

In a recent uni-ball survey, almost 70% of people said they would love to receive a thoughtful and handwritten letter but just never seem to find them in their post – so taking the time to write and send a letter will really show someone that you care. This is particularly true for the older generation, with 83% of the over-65s stating that they would very much enjoy receiving a handwritten letter. And 74% of women as a whole said they would prefer a letter over an email. So use National Letter Writing Day as the starting point for reopening this traditional and personal method of communication.

Celebrate National Letter Writing Day this Saturday December 1 by popping a handwritten note in your Christmas cards. It's the ideal time for getting back in touch as we approach the end of the year and look to make a fresh start in January 2008. Why not update distant friends on what's been happening in your life for the past twelve months, or simply let them know you're thinking of them?