by Nyandeng, age 9 from Juba, South Sudan, asks Santa about Christmas 67, being the world’s newest country, and its first Christmas as an independent nation.
Dear Santa, my name is Nyandeng, and I am nine years old. I live in Juba, South Sudan, where my mama says our country is actually one of the youngest in the whole entire world.
Dear Nyandeng, a young country still writing its very first chapters is a wonderful thing to fly over, and I always feel a little extra hope visiting places just getting started.
Santa, I have three questions.
Have you seen Christmas 67? My uncle mentioned it but nobody else in my family has heard of it.
I am not familiar with that particular one myself, Nyandeng, there are so many small Christmas films made every year that even I cannot keep track of all of them. Perhaps your uncle can help you search for it together, that sounds like a fun little mystery to solve.
My teacher says South Sudan became its own independent country fairly recently. Is that true?
It is true, Nyandeng, South Sudan became independent in 2011, making it the newest country in the entire world. I always take special care with new countries, making sure every child there gets a proper, careful visit.
My mama says our very first Christmas as an independent country was a really big, meaningful celebration. Is that true?
It is true, Nyandeng, that very first Christmas after independence carried extra weight and hope for so many families, a fresh start worth celebrating fully. Every Christmas since has carried a little bit of that same hopeful spirit forward.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Nyandeng Deng
Juba, South Sudan
P.S. Will you tell me if you ever find that movie?
I will keep a curious eye out, Nyandeng, movie mysteries are one of my favorite kinds to solve.
