by Rhys, age 8, asks who started the Christmas tree tradition, about Snowdon, and the Welsh language
Dear Santa,
Shwmae from Cardiff. My name is Rhys and I am 8 years old. My family always argues about who gets to put the star on top of the tree, and this year my little cousin threw such a fuss about it that my mum had to get a step stool so everyone could technically touch it at once.
My first question is: who is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition?
My second question is geography: what is the tallest mountain in Wales?
My third question is from school: why does Wales have its own language alongside English?
I left you Welsh cakes, warm off the griddle, and a small glass of milk.
Love, Rhys, age 8, Cardiff, Wales
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Rhys, warm Welsh cakes are a genuine treat, griddle marks and all. Now, to settle the star debate with a bit of history, and your other questions.
Who is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition?
The decorated indoor tree became popular in Germany in the 1500s, with families bringing evergreens inside and decorating them with candles and small treats. One old story credits the religious reformer Martin Luther with adding candles to a tree after being struck by how the stars looked shining through winter branches on a walk home, though historians are not entirely certain that story is true. The tradition became hugely popular in Britain specifically because of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, who was German, and their decorated tree was shown in illustrated newspapers in the 1840s, which made the custom fashionable across the whole country almost overnight. So in a way, the answer to who is a whole chain of people, stretching from German families centuries ago to a rather influential royal couple.
What is the tallest mountain in Wales?
The tallest mountain in Wales is Snowdon, known in Welsh as Yr Wyddfa, standing about 1,085 metres tall. On a clear day, climbers at the summit can see as far as England, Ireland, and Scotland all at once.
Why does Wales have its own language?
Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe, descending from the language spoken by the ancient Britons long before English arrived. Even as English became widely spoken, Welsh survived through poetry, song, and strong local pride, and today it is taught in schools and used on road signs and in daily life across much of Wales, a living link to a very deep history.
Let everyone touch the star next year too, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
