Imagine it’s Christmas morning and you wake up to find Santa Claus has delivered your gift in the hung stocking or under the decked-up tree. You unwrap and find exactly what you asked for! Wasn’t it the best feeling ever? As Santa makes his list and checks it twice this year, My Kolkata asked a few kids about their wishes for Christmas. Here’s what they had to say…
A foodie’s wish…
Meghranjini Roy is all of 8 and her world revolves around her books, cartoons and favourite food. Among all the animated series she watches, her favourite is Butterbean's Café. Reason? The series is about lip-smacking food and all she wants for Christmas is a ‘Butterbean playset’. When asked why, the Class III student of St Agnes Branch School, Kharagpur said: “I want the toy set because I like the cartoon. They show the making of lots of yummy food. The characters are funny too. I want to make food like them with the set.” Although Meghranjini hasn’t seen Santa, she knows he comes every year to give her gifts around Christmas. As we count the days to December 25, the little girl can’t wait to see if Santa can fulfil her little wish. For that, she is trying hard not to be on the naughty list!
Two li’l wishes
Little Rilassha Das is hoping Santa will give her two gifts this year. When My Kolkata asked her what she wanted, she replied: “If I could ask him for one thing, it would be a puppy! I’ve always wanted one to play with and take care of. It would be like having a best friend who also loves Christmas as much as I do!” For the 7-year-old girl, Santa makes Christmas magical. With all her earnest hope, she made a second wish — “This year, if Santa is in a good mood, then I would ask him for another thing — a telescope, so I can look at the stars and maybe even spot his sleigh flying in the sky. I love learning about space, and it would feel like a gift from Santa and the universe together!” smiled Rilassha Das, a Class II student of Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar. We also hope both of her wishes come true!
A wish for others
Eight-year-old Kiaan Roy Sanyal believes in Santa ardently. He says: “If Santa wasn’t real, why is everyone so happy on Christmas? It is because Santa makes everyone happy. There is celebration everywhere and people are enjoying.” But for Kiaan when it comes to asking for a gift, the 8-year-old wants nothing for himself. “I have my family — my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts who give me everything I want. So for Christmas, I want Santa to give all good things to every child who does not have anyone or whose families cannot give them what they need. I want Santa to give them good food, toys, education and everything. What will I ask more when I have my family?” The boy, studying in Class II at Garden High School, ‘feels deeply for the less fortunate people,’ stated mother Anindita Roy Sanyal.
Does Santa have magical powers?
When we asked 11-year-old Prajjol Chakraborty if he believed in Santa, the Class VI student of Birla High School said that he would like to believe. He said: “If Santa is real, I can ask him to remove poverty. In this whole world, out of eight billion people, millions are poor, even children like us. These people don't even have basic needs. They go without food for days. Children are made to do work and some even die because of hunger.” Prajjol has learnt about all this in school and wishes Santa was real so that he could make the world a better place.
‘Santa tell me if you're really there?’
A student of Class VI, Ifza Omer believes in the ‘spirit’ of Santa Claus. “Even though I’m getting a bit older, I still think it’s fun to imagine that there’s a jolly old man in a red suit who brings presents to kids all around the world.” A student of Ashok Hall Girls’ Higher Secondary School has a wish too. “If I could ask Santa for one thing this year, I would ask him for a new bike,” she said. Ifza would love to ride her bike around her neighbourhood with her friends. “I’ve been wanting a new one with cool designs and features. I think it would be so much fun to ride a new bike on Christmas morning.” Although some adults have told her that Santa isn't real, she thinks ‘the idea of Santa is what makes Christmas so special.’ For her Santa Claus represents kindness, generosity, and love.
Dear Santa, make it all better
With the onset of winter, air pollution increases and 10-year-old Alivia Chowdhury has seen people suffer. Therefore, the Class V student of GD Birla Centre for Education intends to ask Santa for a cleaner and greener earth. She said: “If I could ask Santa for one thing, then it would be a pollution-free green environment in the world. I ask for this gift from him as I hear all the time that many people are falling sick and dying because of asthma, lung cancer etc. If this world is clean and green, then people would not suffer anymore from those diseases.” She is eagerly waiting for Santa to come down the chimney this year and erase the sorrows by bringing everyone joy. “I know Santa will not leave me hopeless. Hope Santa fulfils my dream and gives me my gift which can make many people live in peace and happiness,” Alivia signed off.