by A singing girl in Addis Ababa asks if Santa is a saint, where the Blue Nile begins, and why Ethiopia has its own calendar
A Letter to Santa from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dear Santa,
Selam Santa! My name is Tigist and I am 8 years old. I live in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, a high mountain city full of music and the smell of fresh coffee and spices. I love singing and playing with my cousins. My question is: is Santa Claus a saint? My geography question is: where does the Blue Nile begin? And my social studies question is: why does Ethiopia have its very own calendar? Amesegenallo, Santa!
Love, Tigist (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, selam Tigist! A girl in the land of music and coffee asks a thoughtful question. The answer is yes. At my very heart is a real saint named Saint Nicholas. A saint is a person honored for living an especially good and holy life, and Nicholas earned that honor through his great kindness and his secret gifts to people in need. He was so loved that churches all over the world are named after him. So while I am the jolly fellow you picture today, I grew from a genuine, generous saint.
Your geography question: the Blue Nile
The Blue Nile, one of the two great branches of the mighty Nile River, begins right in your own Ethiopia, flowing out of beautiful Lake Tana. From there it travels north for thousands of miles, joining the White Nile and watering the lands of many countries. Your highlands feed one of the most important rivers on Earth. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: Ethiopia’s own calendar
Your own Ethiopia keeps a special calendar that is different from the one most of the world uses. It has thirteen months instead of twelve, and it counts the years a little differently too. Countries sometimes keep their own calendars because of their long history and traditions, and Ethiopia is proud to have preserved one all its own. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Sing a beautiful song for me, Tigist. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
