by Valentina, age 9, asks who makes all the Christmas movies, about Puerto Rico’s waters, and its US territory status
Dear Santa,
Hola from San Juan. My name is Valentina and I am 9 years old. My mom watches an entirely new Christmas movie almost every single night in December, and when I asked how there could possibly be enough different ones to fill a whole month, she just laughed.
My first question is: who actually makes all these Christmas movies every single year?
My second question is geography: what ocean and sea surround Puerto Rico?
My third question is from school: why is Puerto Rico a United States territory rather than a state?
I left you coquito, a coconut holiday drink, non-alcoholic of course, and pasteles.
Love, Valentina, age 9, San Juan, Puerto Rico
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Valentina, coquito and pasteles made for a wonderfully festive stop, thank you very much. Now, to solve your mom’s endless movie mystery, and your other questions.
Who makes all these Christmas movies every year?
A handful of television networks, especially Hallmark Channel and Lifetime, have built an entire business around producing dozens of brand new holiday movies every single year, often more than thirty apiece, following similar cosy, feel-good formulas that many viewers love returning to season after season. Production usually happens in the summer, when it is warm outside, using fake snow and decorated sets to create that wintery feeling months ahead of time. That is exactly why your mom never seems to run out of options throughout the whole month of December.
What ocean and sea surround Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, an island with stunning coastlines on both sides.
Why is Puerto Rico a US territory rather than a state?
Puerto Rico became a United States territory in 1898 after the Spanish American War, and while its residents are US citizens, the island has never become a full state, a status that has been debated for many years, including through votes and referendums, without a final resolution being reached.
Enjoy the rest of your mom’s movie marathon, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
