by A young pianist in Vienna asks if Santa is German, what the Alps are, and how the carol Silent Night spread worldwide
A Letter to Santa from Vienna, Austria
Dear Santa,
Servus Santa! My name is Felix and I am 9 years old. I live in Vienna, in Austria, a city famous for music, cakes, and grand old palaces. I love playing the piano and skiing in the mountains. My question is: is Santa Claus German? My geography question is: what are the Alps? And my social studies question is: how did the carol Silent Night travel around the world? Danke, Santa!
Love, Felix (age 9)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, servus Felix! A young pianist in the city of great music asks a wonderful question. The answer is layered, like one of your Viennese cakes. I am not exactly German, but the German-speaking lands gave me a great deal. The real Saint Nicholas was actually Greek, born in a town that is now in Turkey. Yet many of my traditions, like the beloved Christmas tree and the name Kris Kringle, which comes from the German word for the Christ child, grew up in German-speaking countries. So while I am not German myself, those lands shaped a great deal of my Christmas magic.
Your geography question: the Alps
The Alps are a mighty mountain range that curves across the middle of Europe, including much of your own Austria. Their snowy peaks are perfect for skiing, just as you enjoy, and they are dotted with cozy villages and crystal lakes. The Alps are some of the most famous mountains in the world. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: how Silent Night traveled the world
The gentle carol Silent Night was first performed in a small Austrian village more than two hundred years ago. People loved its peaceful tune so much that travelers and singers carried it from place to place. Slowly it spread across borders and was translated into many languages, until it became one of the most sung carols on Earth. A simple song from your country now warms the whole world. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Play a tune on your piano for me, Felix. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
