by Bjork, age 8, asks what the word Christmas means, about Vatnajokull, and geothermal energy
Dear Santa,
Bless from Reykjavik. My name is Bjork and I am 8 years old. Here in Iceland it is dark almost all day in December, but we have the Yule Lads, thirteen mischievous brothers who visit one at a time and leave small gifts in the shoes on our windowsill.
My first question is a word question: what does the word Christmas actually mean?
My second question is geography: what is the biggest glacier in Iceland?
My third question is from school: why does Iceland use so much geothermal energy?
I left you smoked lamb and a shoe by the window, freshly polished, just in case.
Love, Bjork, age 8, Reykjavik, Iceland
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Bjork, the shoe was noted and something small was left inside, and the smoked lamb was a fine surprise on a very dark night. Now to your clever questions.
What does the word Christmas actually mean?
This one has a wonderful answer hiding right inside the word itself. Christmas comes from the Old English phrase Cristes maesse, meaning Christ Mass, which was the church service held to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Over hundreds of years, Cristes maesse was shortened and reshaped by English speakers until it became the single word Christmas that we use today. So every time you say the word, you are actually saying a very old sentence, worn smooth like a stone in a river.
What is the biggest glacier in Iceland?
The biggest glacier is Vatnajokull, and it is enormous, covering a large part of southeastern Iceland and ranking among the largest glaciers in all of Europe. Underneath parts of it hide volcanoes, which sometimes melt the ice from below in dramatic fashion. It is a place of true fire and ice, living up to your country nickname.
Why does Iceland use so much geothermal energy?
Iceland sits on top of a very active area of the Earth crust, where volcanoes and hot springs are common. Instead of seeing this as only a challenge, Icelanders learned to use the natural heat rising from underground to warm homes, heat swimming pools, and generate electricity, cleanly and reliably. It means Iceland relies far less on burning fuel than most countries, which I think is rather brilliant, and very fitting for a place so proud of its wild landscape.
Watch for the next Yule Lad, and I shall see you before the last one arrives.
Ho ho ho, Santa
