Video: The “Flying Santa” in Action

Edward Rowe Snow ’32 dropped bundles of presents to lighthouse families around New England every holiday season.

Greetings from Boston Light (1958)

Read Sara Hoagland Hunter’s article on Edward Rowe Snow ’32, from the January-February issue of Harvard Magazine, about the life of the Winthrop High School teacher and maritime writer turned “Flying Santa,” known for his annual holiday flights throughout New England during which he dropped bundles of presents to lighthouse keepers and their families. Then visit the Friends of Flying Santa website, formed in 1997 to help ensure the future of annual Christmas flights to New England lighthouses, to view videos of Snow and his team in action, including a 1946 helicopter flight to Martha's Vineyard; aerial footage of Snow dropping packages at Nauset Light, Great Point Light, and Sankaty Head Light; Snow in full Santa attire preparing for flight at an airport; a 1967 interview; Snow and daughter Dolly delivering gifts by boat to Ken Black and crew at Boston Light; and other aerial footage

You might also like

The Cost of Political Violence

A Harvard discussion on increasing threats and how to stop them

Former Women’s Hockey Coach Sues Harvard

Katey Stone alleges gender bias in handling of abuse allegations that led to her retirement.

Remembering Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan

On a Radcliffe-Harvard memorial to remarkable figures

Most popular

Harvard Confers 11 Undergraduate Degrees

Protestors now found in “good standing.”

Former Women’s Hockey Coach Sues Harvard

Katey Stone alleges gender bias in handling of abuse allegations that led to her retirement.

Remembering Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan

On a Radcliffe-Harvard memorial to remarkable figures

More to explore

Broadway Director from Harvard Adapting Disney

Broadway music director Madeline Benson on art and collaboration

How Political Tension on Campus Creates Risk Aversion

How overheated political attention warps campus life

Harvard Professor on Social Psychology for Understanding War

Two scholars’ extracurricular efforts in the Middle East