by A fort builder in Manchester asks how Santa is real, what Mount Washington is known for, and what a town meeting is
A Letter to Santa from Manchester, New Hampshire
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Theo and I am 8 years old. I live in Manchester, New Hampshire, a New England city near tall mountains and quiet lakes. I love hiking and building forts in the woods. My question is: how is Santa Claus real? My geography question is: what is Mount Washington known for? And my social studies question is: what is a town meeting? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Theo (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Theo! A fort builder in the New Hampshire woods asks a thoughtful question. Here is how I am real. I am real the way the feeling of home is real. You cannot hold home in your hands or put it in a box, yet the moment you walk through your own front door, you feel it, warm and unmistakable. That is exactly how I am real. I am the warm feeling of giving and good cheer, and you feel me every time kindness fills a room or a gift is given with love. So I am real, just not the kind of real you can touch.
Your geography question: Mount Washington
Mount Washington, in your own New Hampshire, is the tallest mountain in the northeastern United States, and it is famous for having some of the wildest weather in the world. Fierce winds, thick fog, and sudden storms sweep across its peak, even in summer. Some of the strongest winds ever measured were recorded right at its top. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: a town meeting
A town meeting is a special New England tradition, common in your own New Hampshire, where the people of a town gather together to discuss and vote on local matters. Instead of leaving every decision to a few leaders, neighbors come together to decide things themselves, like how to spend the town’s money. It is a friendly, hands-on form of democracy. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Build a sturdy fort for me, Theo. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
