by Callum, age 9, asks how Christmas trees appear in video games, about Aberdeen’s rivers, and its nickname
Dear Santa,
Alright Santa, from Aberdeen. My name is Callum and I am 9 years old. My big brother spends most of December playing a game where you build your own little island, and this year he showed me how he had decorated his whole virtual town with a giant Christmas tree covered in lights.
My first question is: how do Christmas trees usually appear inside video games?
My second question is geography: what two rivers meet near Aberdeen?
My third question is from school: why is Aberdeen sometimes called the Granite City?
I left you Aberdeen rowies, a flaky buttery roll, and a mug of tea.
Love, Callum, age 9, Aberdeen, Scotland
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Callum, Aberdeen rowies are wonderfully flaky, thank you very much. Now, to your brother’s virtual Christmas tree, and your other questions.
How do Christmas trees appear in video games?
Many popular games add special seasonal content every December, letting players decorate their in-game homes, towns, or islands with festive trees, twinkling lights, and other holiday decorations, exactly like your brother’s setup. Games such as Animal Crossing and Minecraft are especially well known for this, offering limited time items that let players celebrate the season inside their virtual worlds, often disappearing again once January arrives, which makes decorating them each year feel like a small, fun tradition all its own.
What two rivers meet near Aberdeen?
The River Dee and the River Don both flow through Aberdeen and out into the North Sea, giving the city two rivers bordering it on either side.
Why is Aberdeen called the Granite City?
Many of Aberdeen’s buildings were constructed using local grey granite stone, quarried from nearby, which gives the city a distinctive, sparkling appearance, especially on a sunny day when tiny flecks of mica in the stone catch the light.
Tell your brother his virtual tree sounds lovely, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
