by A singing girl in Lisbon asks about Santa’s many names, the westernmost country in Europe, and the Age of Exploration
A Letter to Santa from Lisbon, Portugal
Dear Santa,
Ola Santa! My name is Beatriz and I am 8 years old. I live in Lisbon, in Portugal, a hilly city by the sea with yellow trams that rattle up the streets. I love singing and watching the boats. My question is: what is Santa Claus’s real name, and do you have other names too? My geography question is: which country is the westernmost in mainland Europe? And my social studies question is: what was the Age of Exploration? Obrigada, Santa!
Love, Beatriz (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, ola Beatriz! A girl who loves singing and watching the boats has the heart of an explorer. My true name is Nicholas, but I must confess that I collect nicknames the way some people collect seashells. Kris Kringle comes from an old German word meaning Christ child. In England I am Father Christmas. Some call me Saint Nick, others just Santa. They all point to the same round, cheerful fellow, so my real name rather depends on where in the world you happen to ask. I happily answer to every one of them.
Your geography question: the westernmost country
Your own Portugal is the westernmost country in mainland Europe, sitting right at the edge where the land meets the wide Atlantic Ocean. For centuries, sailors set off from its shores to explore the unknown seas. There is even a famous cliff where people say the land of Europe ends and the ocean begins. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration was a time, hundreds of years ago, when brave sailors set out across the oceans to discover new sea routes and faraway lands. Your own Portugal led the way, with famous explorers who sailed around Africa and on to Asia. It was a time of great adventure that changed how the whole world connected. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Sing a song for the boats, Beatriz. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
