by Cian, age 9, asks about Christmas Carol movies, the River Liffey, and the Emerald Isle
Dear Santa,
Dia duit from Dublin. My name is Cian and I am 9 years old. My granny reads us A Christmas Carol every single year by the fire, doing all the voices, and Scrooge always sounds suspiciously like our neighbour Mr. Doyle, though Granny denies this completely.
My first question is: how many Christmas Carol movies are there?
My second question is geography: what river runs through Dublin?
My third question is from school: why is Ireland called the Emerald Isle?
I left you soda bread and butter, and a small glass of milk for dunking.
Love, Cian, age 9, Dublin, Ireland
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Cian, soda bread with butter is a small miracle, and I approve entirely of dunking. Now, to your very literary questions.
How many Christmas Carol movies are there?
Charles Dickens wrote his story A Christmas Carol back in 1843, and it has been retold on screen so many times that nobody keeps one official count, though film historians reckon there have been well over twenty notable adaptations, plus many more television versions. Famous ones include the 1951 film with Alastair Sim, the 1988 comedy Scrooged with Bill Murray, the much loved Muppet Christmas Carol from 1992, and a 2009 animated version. Every generation seems to want its own Scrooge, which tells you what a powerful story it is, and I suspect your Mr. Doyle has simply been cast without an audition.
What river runs through Dublin?
The River Liffey flows right through the heart of Dublin, dividing the city into its northside and southside, with many bridges crossing back and forth. It has been the lifeblood of the city for over a thousand years, once busy with trading ships and now lined with cafes and walkways.
Why is Ireland called the Emerald Isle?
Ireland earned that lovely nickname because of its famously green countryside, kept lush by frequent rain and a mild climate that lets grass grow thick nearly all year round. From above, the fields really do look like patches of emerald stitched together, which is a very fitting way to describe such a beautiful island.
Say hello to Granny and to Mr. Doyle, whoever he really is, and I shall see you soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
