by Elias, age 8 from Helsinki, Finland, asks Santa about Christmas pajamas, Finland’s thousands of lakes, and Rovaniemi.
Dear Santa, my name is Elias, and I am eight years old. I live in Helsinki, Finland, where my isa says our country has so many lakes that nobody has ever actually finished counting them all.
Dear Elias, a country too lake-filled to fully count sounds like exactly the kind of place I would choose to live in, if my workshop were not already spoken for.
Santa, I have three questions.
Can I wear Christmas pjs? My aiti got me a matching set with the whole family this year.
Absolutely, Elias, and a matching family set sounds wonderful. Mrs. Claus has been trying to talk me into matching pajamas at the workshop for years, so far the elves have successfully resisted.
My teacher says Finland has almost two hundred thousand lakes. Is that true?
It is true, Elias, Finland is home to roughly one hundred eighty eight thousand lakes, which is exactly why people call it the land of a thousand lakes, though that name is actually a rather modest undercount. I always enjoy the sparkle of all that frozen water on my way toward Rovaniemi.
My isa says Finland is often called the true home of your workshop, near a place called Rovaniemi. Is that true?
It is true, Elias, many people consider Rovaniemi, right on the Arctic Circle, my official hometown, and I do keep a very special office there. Finland has also been named one of the happiest countries in the world several years running, which I like to think has something to do with good neighbors and a healthy respect for lakes.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Elias Korhonen
Helsinki, Finland
P.S. Can the elves try matching pajamas just once this year?
I will propose it at the next workshop meeting, Elias, though I predict a very polite but firm no.
