Starchild: Young readers are filled with the holiday spirit

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 6

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas, everyone! It’s the season of giving and sharing and while we hope you are will have a wonderful celebration with family and friends, don’t forget to spare a thought and a prayer for those who may not be so fortunate this Christmas.

Christmas is the time when Santa Claus makes his rounds to check on who’s been naughty or nice. We hope you will receive lovely gifts for being nice all year round!

Recently, we asked Starchild readers to think of ways Santa Claus could deliver his presents as not all the houses in Malaysia have chimneys. Here are their creative letters on the topic, Christmas.

“Christmas is a festival we are waiting for because that would be the most jolly thing during the pandemic. Santa wanted to make it super special but when he was picking up presents, he had to quarantine himself in the Northpole. This year, Mrs Claus will be delivering the toys. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas,” said Anaia Ajay, nine.

Anaia Ajay, 9

“It’s Christmas Eve, but my wishes never come true. I wished for a puppy and LankyBox Thicc Foxy plush toy, but I had no luck. Santa, it would be wonderful to have a puppy to talk to each time I come home from school. This Christmas, I hope it will be safe to go to shopping malls to see the fantastic decorations. Maybe Santa would be in the mall, and I could tell him my wishes personally,” says Chuah Seng Koon, six.

Zachary Sanjay Joseph, 4

“Santa went to a store to buy presents to deliver to the people. Even though some people do not have a chimney in their homes, Santa had another way to enter the house. He opened the door. Then, he gently tiptoed to the Christmas tree and left some presents. Hahaha. that’s just my imagination. Papa and Mama are the Santas who secretly give the presents. I cannot wait for Christmas to open all my gifts. Merry Christmas everyone,” says Zachary Sanjay Joseph, four.

Wong Zhi Ying, 7

Wong Zhi Ying, seven, says: “Tonight, on Christmas Eve, I will try to wait for Santa but I doubt I will see him as I know I will fall asleep. So I would like to tell Santa to stay safe from the Covid-19 Delta and Omicron variants. Please Santa be safe always. Last but not least, Merry Christmas everyone.”

Debria Preethi Jeyarajah, 10

Debria Preethi Jeyarajah, 10, thinks Santa could be doing things differently due to the pandemic. “Since my house does not have a chimney, Santa would most likely use a magic wand to open our front door, and quietly place the gifts under our Christmas tree. He could also help himself to the cookies.”

Tan Yan Huan, 5

“I believe Santa Claus will secretly deliver presents to kids who are well behaved. I’ve been a good girl over the years and I hope to receive something special from Santa,” says Tan Yan Huan, five.

Tan Ian Yu, 8

Older sibling Tan Ian Yu, eight, writes: “I choose to believe Santa Claus will have a team of reindeers and a flying sleigh to surprise me with presents.”

“I wish I will go to a place with snow, and have snowball fights with my sister. On Christmas, there will be presents under the Christmas tree, and my family will have a Christmas party,” writes Claire Yap Jyn Wei, six.

Claire Yap Jyn Wei, 6

Older sibling Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, nine, is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her family at home. “We cannot travel overseas due to the pandemic. We have decorated our Christmas tree, hung the Christmas wreath, and practised our carols. I like Christmas because we get to open presents.

Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, 9

“Dear Mr Santa, if you are still delivering gifts this year, maybe you can use a big dump truck to do delivery. Please leave them at the door for contactless delivery. Thank you and Merry Christmas,” says Asher Wang Qi Chuen, four.

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 4

Older sibling Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, six, says: “My house has no chimney. Maybe Santa Claus can magically dig a hole under my house to enter instead? You could also take a break due to the pandemic and come next year.”

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 12

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 12, writes, “I wish Santa could time-travel and have more time to deliver presents to children around the world. I will prepare my homegrown carrots for the reindeers to eat so that they can fly faster. Santa will have my homemade pie and a glass of warm milk tea so he can be energetic during the night. I wish that I could have a ride with Santa on his sleigh and help him to deliver presents to houses that Santa couldn’t get in.”

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 9

Younger sibling Jayden Tan Li Sheng, nine, says: “Santa and the elves may have had top-secret magic codes a long time ago. My sisters have learned that there are many ways Santa gets around the world to deliver presents. For example, magic can be used to hide Santa’s sleigh and float in the air! Thank you, Santa, for managing it in one night. I wish him, and everyone good health, happiness, and much love this Christmas.”

“Santa will enter the house through the front door. He will bring along a big red sack full of presents and place them under the Christmas tree,” says Loy Ru Shyuen, five.

Loy Ru Shyuen, 5

Seven-year-old Wong Cheng Yang likes Christmas because many kids in the world can get a present from Santa Claus. “Santa Claus would teleport into my house to give me my present on Christmas Eve. We also celebrate Jesus’ birthday on Christmas day.”

Wong Cheng Yang, 7

Younger sibling Wong Jie Ern, five, writes: “I wish I will get a present from Santa Claus this year. I think Santa Claus will deliver my present through the window. I will put some cookies for Santa Claus. I cannot wait for Christmas!”

Wong Jie Ern, 5

“Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa Claus will be walking on the ground to deliver presents because Malaysian houses don’t have chimneys. Blessed and Merry Xmas to all Starchild readers,” says Norlick Titi, six. - Compiled by Sheela Chandran

Norlick Titi, 6

ITEM: If you have to pick a favourite month, which one will it be? Is it February because of Chinese New Year or the months of your favourite festivals? Or is it your birthday month? Share your stories and drawings with us.

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Jan 7. Please put “STARCHILD: “Favourite Month” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200 dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.