by Naomi, age 8, asks if Christmas will be celebrated in 2026, about the Amazon in Suriname, and its cultures
Dear Santa,
Bonswe from Paramaribo. My name is Naomi and I am 8 years old. My little brother keeps asking everyone in our family the same worried question over and over, and nobody has quite managed to reassure him properly yet.
My first question is his: will Christmas actually be celebrated in 2026?
My second question is geography: what large rainforest covers much of Suriname?
My third question is from school: why does Suriname have such a mix of cultures and languages?
I left you pom, a savoury baked dish, and a slice of black cake.
Love, Naomi, age 8, Paramaribo, Suriname
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Naomi, pom and black cake made for a wonderfully unique stop on my route, thank you very much. Now, let us properly reassure your brother, and answer your other questions.
Will Christmas actually be celebrated in 2026?
You can tell your brother, with complete confidence, yes. Christmas has been celebrated on the 25th of December continuously for well over a thousand years, and there is no reason at all to think 2026 will be any different. It is a fixed date, deeply woven into calendars, religious traditions, and cultures across the entire world, and families everywhere are already planning their celebrations for it right now. Some worries are worth taking seriously, but this one your brother can set down completely.
What large rainforest covers much of Suriname?
The Amazon rainforest extends into Suriname, covering the vast majority of the country in dense, largely untouched tropical forest, home to jaguars, macaws, and an extraordinary variety of plant life.
Why does Suriname have such a mix of cultures?
Suriname’s history involved Dutch colonisation, along with the arrival of enslaved Africans and later indentured labourers from India, Java, and China, all brought to work on plantations. Over generations, these communities built their own distinct traditions while sharing the same small country, creating one of the most culturally diverse nations in all of South America.
Tell your brother to rest easy, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
