by Jakub, age 9, writes to Santa from Brno, Czech Republic, and asks how does santa know if you have been good?
Dear Santa,
My name is Jakub, and I am 9 years old. I live in Brno, Czech Republic, where his teacher says the astronomical clock downtown is actually less famous than the dragon skull hanging in the town hall.
Dear Jakub, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Brno. 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 know if you have been good? My dad and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
I keep a very long list, though mostly I trust that children know in their own hearts when they have been kind, and that matters more to me than any list ever could.
Second, my grandpa was telling us about the Svratka River, which flows along the edge of his neighborhood. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The svratka river, which flows along the edge of his neighborhood 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 in the Czech Republic? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In the czech republic, unmarried women traditionally throw a shoe backward over their shoulder on christmas eve to predict the coming year. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Czech Republic feel like Czech Republic, 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, Jakub. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Brno. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Jakub
Brno, Czech Republic
P.S. Does Jeíek ever visit Brno too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Jeíek handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
