by Sarah, age 9 from Boston, asks Santa Harabeoji about Christmas traditions in South Korea.
A Letter to Santa Harabeoji from Sarah in Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Santa Harabeoji, my name is Sarah and I am nine years old. I live in Boston, Massachusetts, and my best friend’s family is from Korea, so I have questions for you:
- Do Korean children leave out treats for you?
- Do you bring presents to children in South Korea?
- Do you come down the chimney?
- Do you come on Christmas Eve?
- Do you have helpers or elves?
- Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
- Do you look like the American Santa?
- Do you visit all children, or only Christians in Korea?
- Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
- Your name means Santa Grandfather in Korean, are you like Santa?
- Geography: What is the capital city of South Korea?
- Social Studies: South Korea observes both Christmas and Buddha’s Birthday as public holidays. What does that show about religious diversity in the country?
From, Sarah
Santa Harabeoji Writes Back
Do Korean children leave out treats for you?
Some Korean children do leave out small treats, Sarah, especially in Christian households that celebrate Christmas with extra excitement.
Do you bring presents to children in South Korea?
Yes, I bring gifts to children across South Korea, particularly in cities where Christmas has become a popular, festive holiday.
Do you come down the chimney?
Chimney, when a home happens to have one, though in Korea’s many modern apartment buildings I have learned to get creative.
Do you come on Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve night, yes, following a schedule similar to many other Santas around the world.
Do you have helpers or elves?
A small team helps me prepare gifts, especially during the busiest shopping weeks leading up to Christmas.
Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
I do keep a sleigh with reindeer for tradition’s sake, gliding over Korea’s mountains and busy city skylines.
Do you look like the American Santa?
Very similar in appearance, red suit and white beard, largely thanks to how widely the modern American Santa image has spread worldwide.
Do you visit all children, or only Christians in Korea?
Christmas in Korea is celebrated by Christian and non-Christian families alike, so I try to bring holiday cheer to a wide range of households, even if the deeper religious meaning matters most to some.
Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
Yes, a red suit, matching the globally familiar Santa Claus look most Korean children already recognize.
Your name means Santa Grandfather in Korean, are you like Santa?
Santa Harabeoji does mean Santa Grandfather in Korean, and yes, I am considered Korea’s own version of the same Santa Claus character celebrated around much of the world.
Geography: What is the capital city of South Korea?
Seoul is the capital of South Korea, a huge, modern city where dazzling holiday light displays fill the streets and shopping districts each December.
Social Studies: South Korea observes both Christmas and Buddha’s Birthday as public holidays. What does that show about religious diversity in the country?
South Korea celebrates both Christmas and Buddha’s Birthday as official public holidays, reflecting the country’s mix of Christian and Buddhist communities alongside many families who follow no particular religion at all. That blend of traditions is part of why Christmas in Korea feels both familiar and uniquely its own.
