by Ander, age 9 from Bilbao, Spain, asks Santa about rooftop displays, the Nervion River, and the Basque language.
Dear Santa, my name is Ander, and I am nine years old. I live in Bilbao, Spain, where my aitite says a famous shiny museum sits right along our river, looking like a giant silver ship.
Dear Ander, a museum shaped like a silver ship makes for one of the most unusual landmarks on my entire route, your aitite picked a truly artistic hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
Can I put Santa and reindeer on my roof? My neighbor has a whole sleigh scene up there every year.
Rooftop displays are a wonderful tradition, Ander, whether it is me, the reindeer, or the whole sleigh scene. Your neighbor sounds like they have really embraced the spirit of the season.
My aitite says Bilbao sits along the Nervion River. Is that true?
It is true, Ander, the Nervion River winds right through your city on its way to the Bay of Biscay. I always follow that glimmering path to help find my way to your rooftop.
My aitite says our region has its own language called Euskara, spoken alongside Spanish. Is that true?
It is true, Ander, Basque, or Euskara, is spoken alongside Spanish across your region, one of the oldest languages in all of Europe. That kind of care for keeping an old language alive is really something worth celebrating.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Ander Etxeberria
Bilbao, Spain
P.S. Will you land carefully near my neighbor’s sleigh display this year?
Extra carefully, Ander, competing sleighs on one rooftop could get complicated.
