Letters to Santa Show Children's Worries about Coronavirus
2020-12-01
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1There is an unusual way to measure the emotional cost of the coronavirus pandemic.
2It can be seen in letters to Santa Claus now arriving at a post office in southwest France.
3The post office answers mail sent to the traditional Father Christmas from around the world.
4Jim, from Taiwan, put a face mask inside the letter he sent to Santa Claus and wrote "I (heart) u."
5Alina, 5, asked in her letter that Santa please use the front door because the back door is only used by Grandma and Grandpa to lower their risk of catching the new coronavirus.
6And 10-year-old Lola wrote that she is wishing "that my aunt never has cancer again and that this virus no longer exists."
7"My mother is a care-giver and sometimes I am scared for her," Lola explained.
8She ended with "take care of yourself Father Christmas, and of the Elves."
9The letters arrive by the tens of thousands.
10They show what children are thinking about this Christmas season after a year of illness and financial difficulties.
11Young Zoe asked only for a music player and a visit to an amusement park because "this year has been very different from others because of COVID-19."
12"That's why I am not asking you for many thing(s) to avoid infection," Zoe wrote, signing off with "Merci!" and a heart.
13Since 1962, any letter for "Pere Noel" - French for Father Christmas - and mailed anywhere in the world is sent to this town in France's Bordeaux region.
14Working among the vineyards of southwest France, volunteers spend the months of November and December opening and answering letters to Santa.
15The first letters were opened on November 12.
16Then, it quickly became clear that the pandemic is worrying children, says the chief elf, Jamila Hajji.
17Along with the usual requests for toys, there were also requests for vaccines, for visits from grandparents, for life to return to the way it was.
18Thirty percent of the letters discuss the pandemic, Hajji says.
19"The kids have been very affected by COVID, more than we think.
20They are very worried. And what they want most of all, apart from presents, is really to be able to have a normal life, the end of COVID, a vaccine," she says.
21"We are like elf therapists," she adds.
22Answering about 12,000 letters each day, the team of 60 elves sets aside some of the letters that most affect them.
23Lola's is among those that have stood out so far, with its heartfelt words to Santa that "this year more than others, I need magic and to believe in you."
24The elves say they think the children are expressing worries that they may not have shared with parents.
25Emma Barron is a psychiatrist specializing in the mental health of children and teenagers at the Robert Debré pediatric hospital in Paris.
26She says important days like birthdays or Christmas give children security and structure.
27They are an important part of the child's well-being, she said.
28This year, they are especially important.
29Some older people are writing in as well.
30One asked for "a pandemic of love."
31A 77-year-old wrote that the "lockdown is no fun! I live alone."
32A grandparent asked Santa to "say 'Hi' to my two grandkids that I won't be able to see this year because of the health situation."
33Grown woman Anne-Marie wrote that "you will need to sprinkle stars across the entire world."
34I'm Susan Shand.
1There is an unusual way to measure the emotional cost of the coronavirus pandemic. 2It can be seen in letters to Santa Claus now arriving at a post office in southwest France. The post office answers mail sent to the traditional Father Christmas from around the world. 3Jim, from Taiwan, put a face mask inside the letter he sent to Santa Claus and wrote "I (heart) u." 4Alina, 5, asked in her letter that Santa please use the front door because the back door is only used by Grandma and Grandpa to lower their risk of catching the new coronavirus. 5And 10-year-old Lola wrote that she is wishing "that my aunt never has cancer again and that this virus no longer exists." 6"My mother is a care-giver and sometimes I am scared for her," Lola explained. She ended with "take care of yourself Father Christmas, and of the Elves." 7The letters arrive by the tens of thousands. They show what children are thinking about this Christmas season after a year of illness and financial difficulties. 8Young Zoe asked only for a music player and a visit to an amusement park because "this year has been very different from others because of COVID-19." 9"That's why I am not asking you for many thing(s) to avoid infection," Zoe wrote, signing off with "Merci!" and a heart. 10Since 1962, any letter for "Pere Noel" - French for Father Christmas - and mailed anywhere in the world is sent to this town in France's Bordeaux region. 11Working among the vineyards of southwest France, volunteers spend the months of November and December opening and answering letters to Santa. 12The first letters were opened on November 12. Then, it quickly became clear that the pandemic is worrying children, says the chief elf, Jamila Hajji. Along with the usual requests for toys, there were also requests for vaccines, for visits from grandparents, for life to return to the way it was. Thirty percent of the letters discuss the pandemic, Hajji says. 13"The kids have been very affected by COVID, more than we think. They are very worried. And what they want most of all, apart from presents, is really to be able to have a normal life, the end of COVID, a vaccine," she says. 14"We are like elf therapists," she adds. 15Answering about 12,000 letters each day, the team of 60 elves sets aside some of the letters that most affect them. Lola's is among those that have stood out so far, with its heartfelt words to Santa that "this year more than others, I need magic and to believe in you." The elves say they think the children are expressing worries that they may not have shared with parents. 16Emma Barron is a psychiatrist specializing in the mental health of children and teenagers at the Robert Debré pediatric hospital in Paris. She says important days like birthdays or Christmas give children security and structure. They are an important part of the child's well-being, she said. This year, they are especially important. 17Some older people are writing in as well. 18One asked for "a pandemic of love." A 77-year-old wrote that the "lockdown is no fun! I live alone." A grandparent asked Santa to "say 'Hi' to my two grandkids that I won't be able to see this year because of the health situation." 19Grown woman Anne-Marie wrote that "you will need to sprinkle stars across the entire world." 20I'm Susan Shand. 21The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 22_______________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24mask- n. a covering worn on the face, especially one worn for medical or social reasons 25elf- n. (pl. elves) a small creature in stories with pointed ears and magical powers 26pandemic- n. the fast spread of an infectious disease over a very wide area or even the world 27amusement park -n. a place with games and rides for entertainment 28region-n. a large area set apart from others for a special reason 29therapist- n. a person who helps people deal with physical or emotional problems who is not a medical doctor 30psychiatrist- n. a doctor who treats mental or emotional problems 31sprinkle- v. to spread small pieces