by Mia, age 9, writes to Santa from Savannah, Georgia, United States, and asks who St. Nick really is.
Dear Santa,
My name is Mia, and I am 9 years old. I live in Savannah, Georgia, United States, where the moss hanging from the oak trees in her neighborhood makes everything look a little spooky even at Christmastime.
Dear Mia, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Savannah, Georgia. It tells me you are paying attention to the world around you, which is the first step toward being a thoughtful person. Keep noticing things like that.
Santa, I have three questions. First, who is St. Nick? My dad says that is what some people call you where they live, but I do not really understand who that is.
St. Nick is what folks in United States affectionately call my old colleague, and in most every way, he and I are one and the same spirit of Christmas kindness, just wearing a name that fits the local language and the local customs. Every culture has shaped its own version of the story over the centuries, but underneath all the different names, it is always the same idea: someone who shows up in the cold and dark of winter to remind people that generosity matters. I am honored to answer to so many names.
Second, my grandpa was telling us about the Savannah River, which flows right past the old cobblestone streets downtown. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The savannah river, which flows right past the old cobblestone streets downtown is one of the sights the reindeer look forward to most, and I always tell the new reindeer on the team to watch closely as we pass over, because there are not many views in the whole wide world quite like it. Rudolph usually slows down just a little right there, and I have learned not to rush him.
Third, is it true that the in United States? My family was talking about it at dinner and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. The nickname st. nick comes from saint nicholas of myra, a real bishop from long ago who was famous for secretly giving gifts to the poor. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about at the dinner table, because customs like that are what make United States feel like United States, and they are exactly the sort of thing that keeps a community close together, especially in the winter months.
Thank you for your letter and your good questions, Mia. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Savannah, Georgia. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Mia
Savannah, Georgia, United States
P.S. Do you and St. Nick ever compare notes on which one of you has the harder route?
Constantly. So far it remains a friendly and entirely unresolved argument.
