by A boy in Quito asks where Santa is now, what the Galapagos Islands are, and why indigenous crafts are preserved
A Letter to Santa from Quito, Ecuador
Dear Santa,
Hola Santa! My name is Daniel and I am 8 years old. I live in Quito, in Ecuador, a country that sits right on the middle of the Earth. I love bike riding and spotting hummingbirds. My question is: where is Santa Claus right now? Can I find out where you are? My geography question is: what are the Galapagos Islands? And my social studies question is: why do indigenous communities keep their traditional crafts and clothing? Gracias, Santa!
Love, Daniel (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hola Daniel! A hummingbird-spotting boy on the middle of the Earth asks a clever question. Right now, as you read this, I am most likely up at the North Pole, busy in my workshop with the elves, checking lists and loading the sleigh. But here is something exciting: on Christmas Eve, you can actually follow my journey. Kind people run a Santa tracker that shows where my sleigh is as I zoom around the world. So on the big night, you and your family can watch me fly from country to country. Keep an eye on the sky.
Your geography question: the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands belong to your own Ecuador and sit far out in the Pacific Ocean. They are famous for their amazing animals, like giant tortoises and marine iguanas, many of which live nowhere else on Earth. A scientist named Charles Darwin studied them long ago and learned a great deal about nature there. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: keeping traditional crafts
Indigenous communities in your own Ecuador, like the weavers of Otavalo, keep their traditional crafts and clothing to honor their ancestors and pass their culture to their children. Each handwoven pattern carries meaning and history. Holding on to these traditions keeps a people’s identity alive and shares their beauty with the world. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Spot a bright hummingbird for me, Daniel. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
