by Lucia, age 9 from Montevideo, Uruguay, asks Santa about Christmas in July, the Rio de la Plata, and Uruguay’s Dia de la Familia.
Dear Santa, my name is Lucia, and I am nine years old. I live in Montevideo, Uruguay, where my tio says our country officially calls Christmas Day something completely different on the calendar.
Dear Lucia, your tio is absolutely right, and I will admit it took me a little while to get used to seeing my busiest night labeled differently on Uruguayan calendars.
Santa, I have three questions.
Do you celebrate Christmas in July? My cousin in Australia says some countries there have a pretend winter Christmas party in July since their real Christmas is in summer.
Your cousin is right about that fun tradition, Lucia, some Southern Hemisphere countries throw a playful Christmas in July party just for the wintery feeling, even though my actual deliveries still happen every December 25th, rain, shine, or summer heat.
My teacher says Uruguay is one of the smallest countries in South America, right on a big river. Is that true?
It is true, Lucia, Uruguay is one of the smaller countries on the continent, sitting along the wide Rio de la Plata estuary. Small country, big warm welcome, I always say, and Montevideo’s waterfront is a lovely sight from the sleigh.
My tio says Uruguay officially calls Christmas Day Dia de la Familia, Family Day, instead of Christmas on the calendar. Is that true?
It is true, Lucia. Uruguay has long kept a clear separation between government and religion, so many religious holidays were given official secular names, and December 25th became known as Dia de la Familia, Family Day. Whatever the calendar calls it, gathering the people you love close together is really what the day has always been about.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Lucia Fernandez
Montevideo, Uruguay
P.S. Will you still come even though the calendar does not say Christmas?
Always, Lucia, I follow the spirit of the day, not just its name.
