by Elsa from Sundsvall asks Santa if Rudolph is with him, learns about the Gulf of Bothnia coast, and hears about Sundsvall’s real Stone City rebuilding after the 1888 fire
Dear Santa, my name is Elsa and I am nine years old. I live in Sundsvall, Sweden, where my mormor says our whole downtown had to be rebuilt from stone after a terrible fire once burned nearly everything to the ground.
Dear Elsa, your mormor is entirely right, and I have flown over that particular rebuilt city with real admiration for a very long time.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, does Santa have Rudolph with him? My little brother wants to make sure he is always part of the team, not just on foggy nights.
Rudolph is indeed a permanent member of the team, Elsa, not just called upon during foggy weather. He earns his place alongside the others every single Christmas Eve.
My second question is about our coast. My teacher says Sundsvall sits along the Gulf of Bothnia. Is that true?
It is, Elsa. Sundsvall sits along the Gulf of Bothnia, its harbor shaped by the region’s timber trade history. Flying along that cold, historic coastline each Christmas Eve is a genuinely beautiful part of my Swedish route.
My third question is about the Stone City. My teacher says the whole downtown was rebuilt from stone after a devastating fire in 1888. Is that true?
It is true, Elsa. After a fire destroyed much of Sundsvall in 1888, the city was rebuilt using stone rather than wood, giving it the nickname Stone City and making it far more fire-resistant. I think it says something hopeful about a community choosing to rebuild so carefully together.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Elsa Karlsson
Sundsvall, Sweden
P.S. Does Rudolph get tired of always leading?
Never once, Elsa. He rather enjoys the responsibility.
