by Rosa, age 8 from Dili, Timor-Leste, asks Santa about the Christmas Shoes song, Timor-Leste’s recent independence, and its Catholic majority.
Dear Santa, my name is Rosa, and I am eight years old. I live in Dili, Timor-Leste, where my avo says our whole country is one of the youngest in the entire world, only independent since 2002.
Dear Rosa, a country as young as yours reminds me a little of a child’s first Christmas, full of hope and just getting started.
Santa, I have three questions.
Do you like the Christmas shoes song? My tia cries every single time it comes on the radio.
It is a very touching, very emotional song, Rosa, the kind that tends to bring out real feelings in grown-ups especially. I will not spoil it for you, but your tia’s tears make perfect sense once you hear the whole story someday, when you are a little older.
My teacher says Timor-Leste became its own independent country fairly recently. Is that true?
It is true, Rosa, Timor-Leste became fully independent in 2002, making it one of the newest countries in the entire world. I always take special care with new countries, making sure every child there gets a proper, careful visit.
My avo says most people in Timor-Leste are Catholic, which is unusual for this part of the world. Is that true?
It is true, Rosa, Timor-Leste has a strong Catholic majority, quite different from many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, and Christmas is celebrated as a major holiday here because of it. That deep faith and tradition make for one of the most heartfelt Christmas Eves on my entire route.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Rosa Soares
Dili, Timor-Leste
P.S. Will you bring my tia extra tissues this year, just in case?
Already packed, Rosa, a thoughtful gift for a tender heart.
