by Wei Ling, age 9 from Singapore, asks Santa about Christmas tree shops, Singapore’s compact size, and its multicultural harmony.
Dear Santa, my name is Wei Ling, and I am nine years old. I live in Singapore, where my ah ma says Orchard Road gets so covered in Christmas lights every December that it looks like daytime even at midnight.
Dear Wei Ling, Orchard Road’s lights are legendary even at the North Pole, and I always slow the sleigh down just to enjoy the view.
Santa, I have three questions.
Is there a Christmas tree shop? My ba ba wants a real one this year instead of our usual small plastic tree.
There likely is a shop or market stall selling real trees somewhere in the city, Wei Ling, though in a warm place like Singapore, a well cared for artificial tree works just as beautifully and lasts considerably longer.
My teacher says Singapore is a very small country that is also just one big city. Is that true?
It is true, Wei Ling, Singapore is a small island nation that also functions as a single bustling city, one of the busiest ports in the entire world. I always enjoy how compact and efficient my whole visit can be there.
My ah ma says people of many different religions live together peacefully in Singapore, and Christmas gets celebrated by almost everyone anyway. Is that true?
It is true, Wei Ling, Singapore is home to Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Taoist communities all living closely together, and the Christmas season gets embraced warmly by nearly everyone, regardless of what else they celebrate. That kind of shared joy across so many different traditions is really something special to witness.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Wei Ling Tan
Singapore
P.S. Can you fly extra slow past Orchard Road again this year?
Consider it tradition now, Wei Ling, some views deserve a second look.
