by Anna, age 9, asks how to find Christmas lights nearby, about the Baltic Sea, and Riga’s Old Town
Dear Santa,
Sveiki from Riga. My name is Anna and I am 9 years old. My family loves driving around in the evening looking at decorated houses, but every year we end up arguing about which street actually has the best lights, since nobody can ever agree where to look first.
My first question is: how do people usually find good Christmas lights displays near where they live?
My second question is geography: what sea does Latvia border?
My third question is from school: why is Riga’s Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
I left you piparkukas, spiced gingerbread cookies, and a mug of hot cider.
Love, Anna, age 9, Riga, Latvia
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Anna, piparkukas and hot cider made for a lovely, spicy stop, thank you. Now, let me help settle your family’s argument, and answer your other questions.
How do people find good Christmas lights displays near them?
Many towns and cities publish official lists or maps of the best local displays through their tourism websites, and some families use apps or community social media groups where neighbours share and rate favourite streets each year. Local newspapers often run their own annual guides too. A good old fashioned method still works well as well, simply asking neighbours or driving through a few well known festive neighbourhoods slowly with the windows cracked, letting the brightest houses reveal themselves. Perhaps your family could take turns choosing the route each year, so everyone gets their pick eventually.
What sea does Latvia border?
Latvia sits along the Baltic Sea, with sandy beaches and pine forests stretching along much of its coastline, and the Gulf of Riga curving in toward the capital city itself.
Why is Riga’s Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Riga’s Old Town has preserved an extraordinary collection of medieval architecture alongside stunning Art Nouveau buildings from the early 1900s, a rare combination that survived through many turbulent periods of history. UNESCO recognised it as a World Heritage Site in 1997 for that remarkable blend of preserved styles spanning so many centuries in one compact area.
Enjoy the light tour argument again this year, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
