by Wren, age 9 from Truro, Cornwall, asks Santa about Christmas greenery, Cornwall’s coastline, and old English holly and ivy folklore.
Dear Santa, my name is Wren, and I am nine years old. I live in Truro, Cornwall, where my nan says our whole peninsula is surrounded by the sea on almost every side.
Dear Wren, a peninsula hugged by the sea on nearly every side makes for one of the most dramatic coastal approaches on my entire route, your nan picked a truly beautiful hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Do you like Christmas greenery? My nan hangs holly and ivy all over our front door every December.
I love Christmas greenery, Wren, and holly and ivy together on a front door is a truly old and lovely English tradition. Green branches in the middle of winter have always felt like a little promise that spring will come back around.
My teacher says Cornwall sticks out into the sea further than almost anywhere else in England. Is that true?
It is true, Wren, Cornwall juts out into the Atlantic, surrounded by water on three sides, one of the most coastal counties in all of England. I always enjoy that dramatic, windswept view flying in.
My nan says holly and ivy were believed to bring good luck and protection into homes during the cold winter months, a long time ago. Is that true?
It is true, Wren, old English folklore held that holly and ivy carried protective, lucky qualities when brought indoors during winter, a tradition that grew into the Christmas greenery we still hang today. Old beliefs like that have a wonderful way of turning into lasting, cozy traditions.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Wren Trevithick
Truro, Cornwall
P.S. Can you bring extra holly for our whole street this year?
Consider it arranged, Wren, a proper Cornish door deserves a proper Cornish wreath.
