by Chiara, age 8, writes to Santa from Florence, Italy, and asks how does santa fit down the chimney?
Dear Santa,
My name is Chiara, and I am 8 years old. I live in Florence, Italy, where the whole city smells like roasted chestnuts from carts on every corner in December.
Dear Chiara, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Florence. It tells me you are paying close attention to the world around you, which is a fine habit to keep. Please keep noticing things like that.
Santa, I have three questions. First, how does Santa fit down the chimney? My mom and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
Practice, mostly, along with a bit of old magic that lets the chimney widen just enough right when I need it to. Between you and me, the cookies help motivate the squeeze.
Second, my teacher was telling us about the Arno River, which flows beneath the famous bridge lined with old jewelry shops near her house. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The arno river, which flows beneath the famous bridge lined with old jewelry shops near her house is one of the sights the reindeer look forward to most, and I always tell the newer reindeer to watch closely as we pass over, because there are not many views in the whole wide world quite like it. Rudolph tends to slow down just a little right there, and I have learned not to rush him.
Third, is it true that italy holds a national holiday called La Festa dell’Immacolata on December 8th? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. Italy holds a national holiday called la festa dell’immacolata on december 8th, when many families officially put up their christmas tree. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Italy feel like Italy, and they are precisely the sort of thing that keeps a community close together, especially in the winter months.
Thank you for your letter and your good questions, Chiara. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Florence. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Chiara
Florence, Italy
P.S. Does Babbo Natale ever visit Florence too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Babbo Natale handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
