by A skating girl in the Yukon asks Santa about Jack Frost, the Northern Lights, and national holidays
A Letter to Santa from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa, I am Emma and I am 8 years old. I live in Whitehorse, way up in the Yukon, and I love ice skating on the frozen pond near my house. I have a question that has been bugging me: is Jack Frost one of your helpers? My geography question is: what causes the Northern Lights? And my social studies question is: why do countries have national holidays? Stay warm up there, Santa!
Love, Emma (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, Emma! A girl who skates in the Yukon is brave and full of fun, I like that. Now, about Jack Frost. He is a character from very old stories, the playful spirit who paints feathery frost on cold windows and nips at your nose on a chilly morning. He and I do not actually work on the same team, but I will admit I am grateful for the cold weather he brings, because it keeps my reindeer cozy and ready to fly. Jack Frost belongs to folklore, which is the big collection of old tales that people have told for hundreds of years.
Your geography question: the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights, also called the aurora, happen when tiny particles from the Sun travel all the way to Earth and bump into the gases high up in our sky. When they crash together, the gases glow in ribbons of green, pink, and purple. Living in the Yukon, you have one of the best seats in the world to watch them dance. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: national holidays
National holidays are special days when a whole country celebrates something important all together, such as Canada Day. They remind everyone of the history they share, and they give families time to rest and be together. Different countries have different national holidays because each one has its own story to remember. Learn more at Britannica Kids.
Keep gliding across that pond, Emma. Yours from the frosty North Pole, Santa Claus.
