by Lin, age 8, writes to Santa from Guangzhou, China, and asks how does santa fit down the chimney?
Dear Santa,
My name is Lin, and I am 8 years old. I live in Guangzhou, China, where her yeye says the flower markets get even busier in December than they do for Lunar New Year.
Dear Lin, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Guangzhou. It tells me you are paying close attention to the world around you, which is a fine habit to keep. Please keep noticing things like that.
Santa, I have three questions. First, how does Santa fit down the chimney? My mom and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
Practice, mostly, along with a bit of old magic that lets the chimney widen just enough right when I need it to. Between you and me, the cookies help motivate the squeeze.
Second, my teacher was telling us about the Pearl River, which flows right through the middle of her city toward the sea. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The pearl river, which flows right through the middle of her city toward the sea is one of the sights the reindeer look forward to most, and I always tell the newer reindeer to watch closely as we pass over, because there are not many views in the whole wide world quite like it. Rudolph tends to slow down just a little right there, and I have learned not to rush him.
Third, is it true that in parts of southern China? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In parts of southern china, giving an apple on christmas eve is popular because the word for apple sounds like the word for peace. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make China feel like China, and they are precisely the sort of thing that keeps a community close together, especially in the winter months.
Thank you for your letter and your good questions, Lin. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Guangzhou. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Lin
Guangzhou, China
P.S. Does Dun Che Lao Ren ever visit Guangzhou too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Dun Che Lao Ren handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
