by Matilde, age 9 from Coimbra, Portugal, asks Santa about the song’s lyrics, the Mondego River, and Coimbra’s history as Portugal’s early capital.
Dear Santa, my name is Matilde, and I am nine years old. I live in Coimbra, Portugal, where my avo says our university is one of the oldest in all of Europe, founded hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
Dear Matilde, a university with that much history deserves a very respectful flyover, your avo picked a truly scholarly hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
What are the lyrics to Gene Autry’s ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’? My avo hums it but never gets the words quite right.
Those particular words belong to the songwriters and performer who created them, Matilde, so I will leave the exact lyrics to your avo’s memory, humming and all. What I can say is that a cheerful song like that always sounds wonderful, mixed up words included.
My avo says Coimbra sits along the Mondego River. Is that true?
It is true, Matilde, the Mondego River winds right through your city on its way to the Atlantic. I always follow that glimmering path to help find my way to your rooftop.
My avo says Coimbra was once the capital of Portugal a very long time ago. Is that true?
It is true, Matilde, Coimbra served as Portugal’s capital during the early medieval period, before that honor eventually moved elsewhere. That kind of deep, layered history is really something worth being proud of.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Matilde Costa
Coimbra, Portugal
P.S. Will you hum along with my avo’s version this year?
I will do my best, Matilde, though my humming is better appreciated at a respectful distance.
