Frank Piecka, age 12, of Bridgeport, Conn., for his question:
How did Christmas Island get its name?
Easter island was named because it was sighted one Easter morning long ago. The English explorer' Capt. James Cook, reported on this lonely mid pacific isle in the 18th century. He also reported on another mid Pacific Island.
It was the year 1777, and cook's sailing ship was a mere 120 miles north of the equator. His position was some 19304 miles south of Honolulu when Christmas Day dawned in the balmy pacific, and as he scanned the horizon he spotted the long, sandy shore of a coral atoll. He investigated the lows dry island and named it Christmas Island because it was discovered on Christmas Day.