by Greta, age 8 from Freiburg, Germany, asks Santa about Old World figurines, the Black Forest, and its woodcarving tradition.
Dear Santa, my name is Greta, and I am eight years old. I live in Freiburg, Germany, where my oma says our whole city sits right at the edge of a great big forest full of old stories.
Dear Greta, a city bordering a forest full of old stories deserves a very curious flyover, your oma picked a truly enchanting hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Are there Old World Santa figurines? My oma has a whole shelf of them, painted in an old fashioned style.
There certainly are Old World style Santas out there, Greta, painted with rich colors in a classic European folk art style. Your oma’s shelf sounds like it holds a truly treasured little collection.
My oma says Freiburg sits right at the edge of the Black Forest. Is that true?
It is true, Greta, the Black Forest stretches right along your city’s border, dense and full of old legends. I always enjoy that dark, storybook landscape flying in to visit you.
My oma says the Black Forest region has a long tradition of woodcarving and folk crafts. Is that true?
It is true, Greta, the Black Forest region has been famous for skilled woodcarving and folk crafts for generations. That kind of careful, patient craftsmanship is really something worth celebrating, Christmas and every day after.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Greta Hoffmann
Freiburg, Germany
P.S. Will you bring my oma a new figurine for her shelf this year?
Already wrapped, Greta, a growing collection deserves a proper new addition.
