Start of a wish-list letter

DEARSANTA

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue:\n\n*\"It's how many children begin their holiday requests.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- References the context of a holiday wish list without repeating the original clue.\n- Suggests a common phrase used by children, nudging the solver toward the familiar opening of such a letter.\n- Avoids giving away the answer directly while making it easier than the original clue."]

The clue **"Start of a wish-list letter"** leads to the answer **"DEARSANTA"** through the following breakdown: 1. **"Start of a wish-list letter"** – This suggests the opening line of a letter, particularly one that might contain a list of wishes (e.g., a child's letter to Santa Claus). 2. **"Dear Santa"** – This is the traditional salutation at the beginning of such a letter, where a child addresses Santa Claus before listing their desired gifts. 3. **Wordplay/Structure** – The answer is written as a single word ("DEARSANTA") rather than two separate words, which is a common crossword convention for phrases or proper nouns. Thus, the clue cleverly hints at the familiar opening of a holiday wish list, leading to the answer.