by A flute-playing boy in Cusco asks if Santa exists, what a mountain range is, and what an ancient civilization is
A Letter to Santa from Cusco, Peru
Dear Santa,
Hola Santa! My name is Mateo and I am 8 years old. I live in Cusco, high up in the mountains of Peru, where the air is thin and the views are amazing. I love llamas and playing the flute. My big question is: does Santa Claus exist? My geography question is: what is a mountain range? And my social studies question is: what is an ancient civilization? Gracias, Santa!
Love, Mateo (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hola Mateo! A boy who lives high in the mountains with llamas and a flute is a true mountain spirit. You asked if I exist, and yes, I most certainly do. Let me explain it this way: I exist the same way a song exists. You cannot hold a song in your hands, but when you play your flute, the music is absolutely real, and it can fill a whole valley. That is how I exist too. I am the music of giving, and you hear me every time someone shares a little kindness.
Your geography question: what is a mountain range
A mountain range is a long chain of mountains standing together, like a row of giants. Your own Peru sits along the Andes, which is the longest mountain range on land in the entire world, stretching down the whole western side of South America. Living in Cusco, you are perched high among those mighty peaks. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: ancient civilizations
An ancient civilization is a group of people from long ago who built cities, made laws, and created their own art and inventions. Your own Peru was home to the amazing Inca civilization, who built the famous stone city of Machu Picchu high in the mountains. We study ancient peoples to learn how clever and creative humans have always been. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Play your flute for the llamas, Mateo. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
