by Sofia, age 7, asks why Christmas is December 25, about the Amazon, and Portuguese
Dear Santa,
My name is Sofia and I am 7 years old and I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is very hot here at Christmas so sometimes we go to the beach and then eat a big supper very late at night on Christmas Eve, which we call Ceia de Natal. I stay up as late as I can to try to see you.
Here are my questions. First: why is Christmas on the 25th of December?
Second, a geography question: what is the biggest river in Brazil?
Third, a school question: why do people in Brazil speak Portuguese?
I am leaving you some brigadeiro sweets. They are chocolatey and I made them myself, mostly.
Love, Sofia, age 7, Sao Paulo, Brazil
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Sofia, homemade brigadeiro is the finest fuel a sleigh could ask for. Thank you, and well done in the kitchen. Now for your excellent questions.
Why is Christmas on the 25th of December?
People have celebrated Christmas on the 25th of December for a very long time, since about the fourth century. The date was not written down by the very first Christians, so leaders of the early church chose the 25th. Many people believe they picked it because it landed near older midwinter festivals, when the days in the northern half of the world stop getting shorter and the light begins to return. It felt like the perfect time to celebrate hope and new beginnings, and the date simply stuck. It works out nicely for my schedule too.
What is the biggest river in Brazil?
The biggest river in Brazil, and one of the mightiest in the whole world, is the Amazon River. It carries more water than any other river on Earth, flowing through the enormous Amazon rainforest that is home to jaguars, pink dolphins, and more kinds of birds and insects than anyone has ever managed to count. It is so wide in places that standing on one bank, you cannot see the other side.
Why do people in Brazil speak Portuguese?
Brazil speaks Portuguese because, many hundreds of years ago, explorers and settlers came from Portugal, a country in Europe, and brought their language with them. Over the centuries it mixed with words from the many peoples who already lived in Brazil and from others who arrived later, which is why Brazilian Portuguese has a flavour all its own. Languages, like recipes, pick up new ingredients as they travel.
Try to get some sleep on Christmas Eve, and I shall do my best to visit before you nod off.
Ho ho ho, Santa
