by Fernanda, age 9, asks about song chords, Costa Rica’s oceans, and its lack of an army
Dear Santa,
Pura vida from San Jose. My name is Fernanda and I am 9 years old. My older brother just started guitar lessons, and he has been trying to learn every Christmas song he can find chords for, strumming the same four lines over and over until the whole house has them memorised whether we like it or not.
My first question is: what are the chords to When Christmas Comes to Town?
My second question is geography: what two oceans border Costa Rica?
My third question is from school: why does Costa Rica not have an army?
I left you tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and a mug of hot chocolate made with real cacao.
Love, Fernanda, age 9, San Jose, Costa Rica
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Fernanda, that cacao hot chocolate was rich and wonderful, tell your brother his practicing has paid off in dedication if nothing else. Now, to his song and your other questions.
What are the chords to When Christmas Comes to Town?
I am not able to provide the actual chords or sheet music here, since the specific arrangement of a song belongs to the people who wrote and published it, much like the lyrics do. The good news is that official, properly licensed sheet music and guitar chords for the song are easy to find through sites like Sheet Music Direct or Musicnotes, or through a printed songbook from the film The Polar Express. That way your brother learns it correctly, and the people who wrote it get proper credit for their work too.
What two oceans border Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has the Pacific Ocean along its western coast and the Caribbean Sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean system, along its eastern coast. Despite being a fairly small country, that means you can visit two completely different coastlines in the same single day if you drive across it.
Why does Costa Rica not have an army?
Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948, after a short civil war, choosing instead to invest that money into education, healthcare, and protecting its incredible natural environment. It remains one of the very few countries in the world without a standing army, and many Costa Ricans see it as a source of great national pride, a country that chose parks and schools over tanks.
Tell your brother to keep practicing, chords or otherwise, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
