by A pony rider in Lexington asks how Santa is dead, why Kentucky grass is blue, and why Lexington is the Horse Capital
A Letter to Santa from Lexington, Kentucky
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Josie and I am 8 years old. I live in Lexington, Kentucky, in the green rolling hills of horse country. I love riding ponies and braiding their manes. A question has been troubling me: how is Santa Claus dead? My geography question is: why is the grass in Kentucky called bluegrass? And my social studies question is: why is Lexington called the Horse Capital of the World? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Josie (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Josie! A pony rider in horse country, please set that worry aside, because I am not dead at all. I am right here, jolly as ever! You may be thinking of the real man I grew from, Saint Nicholas. He died peacefully of old age, long, long ago, after a full and happy life spent helping others. There was nothing scary about it, he simply grew very old, as people do. And the wonderful part is that his kindness never died. It lived on for centuries and grew into the cheerful Santa writing to you now.
Your geography question: why bluegrass is blue
The famous grass of your own Kentucky is called bluegrass because, in the springtime, it produces tiny bluish-purple buds. When whole fields of it bloom together, they take on a soft, silvery-blue tint, especially in the morning light. The rich, limestone-fed soil helps this special grass grow thick and strong. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the Horse Capital of the World
Your own Lexington is called the Horse Capital of the World because its rolling bluegrass pastures and mineral-rich soil are perfect for raising strong, healthy horses. For generations, famous racehorses have been bred and trained on the farms around the city. Horses are woven deeply into Lexington’s history, work, and proud identity. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Braid a pony’s mane for me, Josie. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
