by Genesis, age 9 from Caracas, Venezuela, asks Santa about movies about him, Mount Avila, and Venezuela’s roller skating Christmas tradition.
Dear Santa, my name is Genesis, and I am nine years old. I live in Caracas, Venezuela, where my abuela says our whole street closes to cars early on Christmas morning so everyone can roller skate to church together.
Dear Genesis, roller skating to church sounds like one of the most joyfully chaotic Christmas traditions I have ever heard of, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Santa, I have three questions.
Is there a movie about Santa Claus? My primo says there are actually a lot of them, but I have only seen one.
There are a great many movies about me, Genesis, made over many, many years, each with its own take on the story. Your primo is right, there is always another one waiting to be discovered.
My abuela says Caracas sits right at the foot of a big mountain called Avila. Is that true?
It is true, Genesis, Mount Avila rises up right behind your city, green and dramatic against the skyline. I always enjoy that mountain backdrop on my way in to visit you.
My abuela says roller skating to early morning Mass on Christmas is a real, famous Venezuelan tradition. Is that true?
It is true, Genesis, that early morning roller skate to Mass is a beloved and genuinely unique Venezuelan Christmas tradition, streets closed off just for skaters heading to church together. Traditions that joyful and that specific to one place are exactly what make each country’s Christmas feel like its own.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Genesis Rodriguez
Caracas, Venezuela
P.S. Do you ever try roller skating yourself?
Only very carefully, Genesis, my balance is better suited to rooftops than wheels.
