by A young guitarist in Nashville asks who wrote Santa’s song, what the Mississippi River is, and why the USA has fifty states
A Letter to Santa from Nashville, USA
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Ethan and I am 8 years old. I live in Nashville, in the United States, a city where music plays day and night. I love playing guitar and listening to my grandpa pick the banjo. My question is: who wrote the song Santa Claus Is Comin to Town? My geography question is: what is the Mississippi River? And my social studies question is: why does the United States have fifty states? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Ethan (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Ethan! A young guitar player in the music city is exactly the right person to ask about a song. That cheerful tune, Santa Claus Is Comin to Town, was written way back in 1934 by two clever fellows. A man named Haven Gillespie wrote the words, and a man named John Frederick Coots wrote the music. When it was first played on the radio, people loved it so much that it became an instant hit, and families have happily sung it every Christmas ever since. I must admit, I rather enjoy hearing my own theme song.
Your geography question: the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is one of the longest and most important rivers in your own United States. It flows from the north all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, carrying boats, goods, and stories along its winding path. For a very long time it has been a lifeline for the towns and cities along its banks. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: fifty states
The United States has fifty states because it grew over time, joining many separate regions together into one country, each keeping some power to make its own local rules. A state is like a smaller member of the larger nation, with its own capital and government. Together, all fifty cooperate as a single united country. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Strum a happy tune for me, Ethan. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
