by Charlotte from Monaco asks Santa about visiting houses, learns Monaco is one of the world’s smallest countries, and hears about the Prince’s Palace nativity display
Dear Santa, my name is Charlotte and I am nine years old. I live in Monaco, where my grand-mère says our whole country is so small that you could practically fit it inside one large park in a bigger city.
Dear Charlotte, your grand-mère is entirely right, and Monaco remains one of the quickest, most thorough stops on my whole route every single year.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, do you visit Christmas houses even in a country as small as ours? My little brother worries you might accidentally skip us since we take up so little space on the map.
You can reassure your brother completely, Charlotte. Size has never once determined how carefully I plan a visit. Every home, however small the country around it, gets exactly the same attention.
My second question is about our country. My teacher says Monaco is the second smallest country in the entire world. Is that true?
It is, Charlotte. Monaco is the second smallest sovereign country on Earth, after Vatican City, densely packed along the Mediterranean coastline. Flying over its glittering harbor and cliffside buildings each Christmas Eve, in just a few short seconds, is a genuinely striking part of my route.
My third question is about the Prince’s Palace. My family goes to see the nativity display there every December. Why is that display so important here?
The nativity display at the Prince’s Palace is a treasured part of Monaco’s Christmas tradition, Charlotte, drawing families together each year to admire its careful craftsmanship, alongside the palace’s own Christmas market and festive lighting. It is a lovely example of how even a very small country can hold onto beautiful, meaningful traditions with real pride.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Charlotte Béranger
Monaco
P.S. Does it take you longer to fly over big countries than small ones like ours?
Considerably longer, Charlotte. Monaco is practically a coffee break by comparison.
