by Wei Ling from Singapore asks Santa about Christmas decor sales, learns Singapore is a compact island city-state, and hears about the Orchard Road light displays
Dear Santa, my name is Wei Ling and I am nine years old. I live in Singapore, where my ah ma says our whole country is so small and so tidy that you could practically drive across it before finishing a good story.
Dear Wei Ling, I have made that exact drive myself, and your ah ma’s timing estimate sounds about right.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, is there a Christmas decor sale? My mum waits every year for the shops on Orchard Road to have their big holiday sale before buying new ornaments.
Shops across Singapore do offer wonderful festive sales this time of year, Wei Ling, and your mum’s patience usually pays off. Waiting for the right moment is a skill I deeply respect.
My second question is about our country. My teacher says Singapore is one of the smallest countries in the whole world, but also one of the busiest. Is that true?
It is, Wei Ling. Singapore is a small island city-state, yet it is one of the busiest, most important trading and travel hubs anywhere on Earth. Flying over its glittering skyline and busy harbor each December is genuinely impressive, given how compact the whole country is.
My third question is about Orchard Road. My teacher says the light displays there are famous even outside Singapore. Why do so many people, even non-Christians, celebrate the lights so enthusiastically?
Orchard Road’s Christmas lights have become a beloved annual tradition across Singapore, Wei Ling, drawing families of every background together simply to enjoy the beauty and cheer of the season. Singapore’s many cultures often celebrate each other’s festivals with genuine warmth, and I think that shared joy, whatever your own beliefs, is a wonderful way to spend an evening.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Wei Ling Tan
Singapore
P.S. Do you walk down Orchard Road when you visit?
Every year, Wei Ling. It would be a shame to fly straight past it.
