by Wyatt, age 9 from Christmas Valley, Oregon, asks Santa about his hometown, Oregon’s high desert, and how the town got its name.
Dear Santa, my name is Wyatt, and I am nine years old. I live in Christmas Valley, Oregon, and my grandpa says it is funny that our town has such a festive name even though it almost never actually snows here.
Dear Wyatt, a town called Christmas Valley without much snow has always struck me as a delightful little joke played by geography, and I love it dearly for exactly that reason.
Santa, I have three questions.
Is there a Christmas Valley in Oregon? My friends at school never believe me when I tell them where I live.
There absolutely is, Wyatt, and I make sure to double check my map every year just to confirm your town’s wonderful name is still right where I left it. Tell your friends Santa can personally vouch for its existence.
My teacher says Christmas Valley actually sits in a dry, high desert part of Oregon instead of a snowy mountain area. Is that true?
It is true, Wyatt, your part of Oregon sits in a high desert region, which explains the surprising lack of snow despite that festive name. I always find that little contrast rather charming, a warm desert wearing a wintery name.
My grandpa says the town got its name on purpose, back in the 1960s, to attract new people to move there. Is that true?
It is true, Wyatt, developers gave the area its cheerful name decades ago hoping it would draw new families to settle there. A hopeful name choosing to bring people together, that sounds exactly like something I can get behind.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Wyatt Coleman
Christmas Valley, Oregon
P.S. Can you bring us some real snow this year, just to match the name properly?
I will see what I can arrange, Wyatt, though the desert may have other plans.
