by Dinesh, age 9 from Colombo, Sri Lanka, asks Santa about Christmas flowers, Sri Lanka’s tea plantations, and its multi-religious community.
Dear Santa, my name is Dinesh, and I am nine years old. I live in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where my amma says our whole street smells like spices and fresh flowers every single morning, even more so in December.
Dear Dinesh, a street that smells like spices and flowers might be one of the best-smelling stops on my entire route, and I always fly a little slower there.
Santa, I have three questions.
What are Christmas flowers? My teacher showed us a bright red plant but I forgot its name.
The bright red plant your teacher showed you was likely a poinsettia, one of the most popular Christmas flowers in the world. Others like holly, mistletoe, and the Christmas rose join it every December, each with their own splash of color for the season.
My teacher says Sri Lanka is an island just south of India, famous for growing tea. Is that true?
It is true, Dinesh, Sri Lanka sits as an island nation just off the southern tip of India, and its hillside tea plantations are famous the world over. I always enjoy that fragrant, misty landscape on my way to your rooftop.
My amma says only a small part of Sri Lanka is Christian, but everyone still enjoys the Christmas lights and music. Is that true?
It is true, Dinesh, Sri Lanka is home to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities all living together, and while Christians are a smaller part of that mix, the whole island tends to enjoy the lights and music of the season regardless. That shared enjoyment across different beliefs is really one of my favorite things to witness on my route.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Dinesh Perera
Colombo, Sri Lanka
P.S. Can you bring a poinsettia that smells like our street?
I will ask the elves to work on the scent, Dinesh, though nature may need the final say.
