by A young fisher in Mobile asks where Santa is real, what an estuary is, and about America’s first Mardi Gras
A Letter to Santa from Mobile, Alabama
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Jonah and I am 7 years old. I live in Mobile, Alabama, a warm old city on the bay where the rivers meet the sea. I love fishing and watching the boats. My question is: where is Santa Claus real? My geography question is: what is an estuary? And my social studies question is: is it true the first Mardi Gras in America was in Mobile? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Jonah (age 7)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Jonah! A young fisher who watches the boats asks a beautiful question. Where am I real? Everywhere that kindness lives! I am real in your home when your family gives gifts with love. I am real in your town when neighbors help one another. I am real wherever someone is generous for no reason at all, just to bring a little joy. So the answer to where Santa is real is simply this: everywhere, in every kind and giving heart, including the one beating inside you.
Your geography question: what is an estuary
An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salt water. Your own Mobile sits beside Mobile Bay, a large estuary where several rivers empty into the Gulf. Estuaries are bursting with life, serving as nurseries for fish, crabs, and birds, which makes them some of the richest habitats on Earth. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: America’s first Mardi Gras
Yes, it is true! Your own Mobile is the home of the first Mardi Gras celebration in America, older even than the famous one in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a lively community festival with parades, music, and colorful costumes. Traditions like this become a proud part of a city’s spirit, passed down and celebrated year after year. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Catch a big fish for me, Jonah. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
