by Lena, age 8, asks where the Christmas tree began, about the Rhine, and Advent calendars
Dear Santa,
Guten Tag from Munich. My name is Lena and I am 8 years old. We have the most beautiful Christmas markets here, with wooden stalls and gingerbread hearts and the smell of roasted almonds everywhere. My favourite part is our Christmas tree, which we decorate with real candles that Papa lights very carefully.
So my first question is: where did the Christmas tree originate?
My second question is geography: what is one of the longest rivers in Germany?
My third question is from school: why do we have Advent calendars?
I am leaving you Lebkuchen, which is gingerbread, and a carrot for the reindeer.
Love, Lena, age 8, Munich, Germany
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Lena, Lebkuchen is a treat I look forward to all year, and the reindeer send their thanks for the carrot. Now, to your very fitting questions.
Where did the Christmas tree originate?
You will be proud to hear the answer, Lena: the Christmas tree as we know it originated in Germany, around the 1500s. Families began bringing evergreen trees indoors during winter and decorating them with candles, apples, and sweets. Evergreens stay green all through the cold, which made them a cheerful symbol of life and hope in the darkest part of the year. From Germany the tradition spread across the world, so every twinkling tree everywhere owes a little something to your home country.
What is one of the longest rivers in Germany?
One of the longest and most important rivers in Germany is the Rhine. It flows for hundreds of kilometres, past castles, vineyards, and busy cities, and it has carried boats and goods and stories for thousands of years. The Danube is another great river that begins in Germany before travelling across much of Europe. Rivers like these are like the roads of old, connecting many lands together.
Why do we have Advent calendars?
Here is another proudly German invention. Advent calendars began in Germany in the 1800s as a way for children to count down the days to Christmas. At first families simply marked days with chalk or lit candles, and later came the printed calendars with little doors to open, one each day, sometimes hiding a picture or a small treat behind them. It turns the waiting into part of the fun, which is very wise, because the waiting is often the hardest bit.
Keep those candles safe, enjoy the markets, and I shall see you soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
