by A boy in Kingston hears a scary rumor and asks Santa, plus what the Caribbean Sea is and how music shapes a country
A Letter to Santa from Kingston, Jamaica
Dear Santa,
Hello Santa! My name is Kemar and I am 8 years old. I live in Kingston, in Jamaica, where the sun shines bright and the music never stops. I love running and playing the steel drum. A big kid told me a scary story, so I have to ask: who killed Santa Claus? My geography question is: what is the Caribbean Sea? And my social studies question is: how does music become part of a country’s identity? Thank you, Santa!
Love, Kemar (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Kemar! Now do not you worry one little bit, because nobody killed me. In fact, I am sitting right here in my warm workshop, laughing as I write this letter to you, with a cookie in one hand and a cup of cocoa in the other. That big kid was only telling a tall tale to tease you, the way big kids sometimes do. I am as healthy and happy as ever, my reindeer are well fed, and my belly is as round as a drum. So smile, my friend, I am very much alive and looking forward to Christmas.
Your geography question: the Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a warm, beautiful sea dotted with hundreds of islands, and your own Jamaica is one of them. Its clear blue water is full of colorful fish and coral reefs. Sailors, traders, and travelers have crossed it for hundreds of years. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: music and identity
Music becomes part of a country’s identity when its rhythms and stories grow so beloved that the whole world links them to that place. Your own Jamaica gave birth to reggae, a sound known and loved everywhere. A country’s music carries its history, its struggles, and its joy, all in a beat you can dance to. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Play a happy tune on that steel drum, Kemar. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
