by Karen from Georgetown asks Santa about her own name, learns about Kaieteur Falls, and hears about Guyana’s Christmas black cake tradition
Dear Santa, my name is actually Karen, and I am nine years old. I live in Georgetown, Guyana, where my grandma says our whole city sits below sea level, protected by a wall built a very long time ago.
Dear Karen, your grandma is entirely right, and I always fly a careful, respectful pass over that impressive wall each year.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, is there a Christmas Karen? My friends teased me a little when I heard that phrase somewhere, but I could not quite understand what it meant.
I would not worry about it too much, Karen. Names carry all sorts of meanings depending on who is using them, but your own name belongs entirely to you, and it is a lovely one.
My second question is about our waterfall. My teacher says Kaieteur Falls is one of the most powerful single-drop waterfalls in the entire world. Is that true?
It is, Karen. Kaieteur Falls plunges dramatically in a single powerful drop deep in the Guyanese rainforest, among the most impressive waterfalls anywhere on Earth by sheer volume. Flying near it each Christmas Eve, mist rising into the moonlight, is a genuinely unforgettable sight.
My third question is about black cake. My whole family makes one every December, soaked in fruit and spices for weeks beforehand. Why does it take so long to prepare?
Guyanese black cake is a cherished Christmas tradition, Karen, its dried fruits soaked in rum and wine for weeks or even months beforehand to develop a deep, rich flavor, a labor of real patience passed down through generations. I think a treat that takes that much care to prepare deserves to be savored slowly too.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Karen Persaud
Georgetown, Guyana
P.S. Will you save room for a slice of black cake?
Always, Karen. I plan my whole route around dessert, quietly.
