by Isla, age 7 from Auckland, New Zealand, asks Santa about Christmas movies, trees, and lights during a summer holiday.
Isla from Auckland, New Zealand
Dear Santa,
My name is Isla, and I am seven years old. I live in Auckland, New Zealand, where Christmas happens in the middle of summer, and my nana says nothing feels stranger than eating a hot roast dinner while wearing sunscreen.
Dear Isla, your nana has identified one of the great oddities of my job. I spend Christmas Eve going from blizzards to beaches within the same hour, and yes, the sunscreen surprises me every single year too.
I hope the reindeer are practicing their flying, since our sky gets very clear in summer and my dad says you would have no trouble finding our roof.
The reindeer have been training extra hard, and a clear New Zealand sky is exactly the kind of landing strip we appreciate.
Santa, I have some important questions.
First, do you watch Christmas movies? My dad says all the movies show snow and fireplaces, but that is not what Christmas looks like here at all.
Your dad makes an excellent point, and it has always struck me as a little unfair to New Zealand’s summer Christmas. I do watch the classics, snow and all, but I also enjoy the newer films finally showing Christmas at the beach, barbecues, and cricket on the lawn, which is far closer to your actual holiday.
Second, can I have a Christmas tree in my house? My mum says a pohutukawa branch counts because it blooms red right around Christmas time.
Your mum is completely correct, Isla. The pohutukawa is sometimes called New Zealand’s Christmas tree for exactly that reason, blooming bright red at just the right moment. It counts, and honestly it might be prettier than anything I ship down from the North Pole.
Third, do you like Christmas lights? Our neighbors put up lights even though the sun does not go down until almost nine o’clock, and my brother says that is a waste of electricity.
Your neighbors deserve applause, not criticism, Isla. Putting up lights that barely get seen in the daylight takes genuine holiday commitment. Tell your brother that dedication like that should never be called a waste.
Fourth, have you ever seen Christmas Vacation? My auntie says it is her favorite movie but I do not understand why anyone would want that much snow.
I have seen it, and I understand your confusion completely. From a beach-Christmas perspective, a house buried in that much snow probably looks like a disaster film rather than a comedy. Different countries, different definitions of a good time, Isla.
Fifth, what is Christmas really about? My teacher told our class it is about the birth of Jesus, but my friend says it is really about family time, and I think they might both be right.
You have solved this one better than most adults manage, Isla. Christmas began as a celebration of Jesus’s birth, and over the centuries families everywhere have shaped it into their own version of togetherness, whether that means snow by a fire or a barbecue on the sand. Both things can be true at once, and usually are.
I also have some follow-up questions.
Do you wear your red suit on the beach too?
I do, reluctantly, and I have the sunburn on my nose to prove it.
Do the reindeer like flying over the ocean?
They love it, right up until a seagull gets too close and takes it personally.
Is it strange delivering presents in summer?
After a few centuries you adjust, though I still pack sunscreen right next to the cookies.
Do kiwi kids leave you a different snack than milk and cookies?
Quite a few leave me a cold drink instead, which I will admit is the more sensible choice in your climate.
Thank you for reading my letter, Santa. My mum helped with spelling but the questions are all mine.
Your questions were sharp, Isla, and you clearly already understand that Christmas bends to fit wherever it lands, snow or sunshine. Keep asking good questions like this one, they will take you far. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Isla Mitchell
Auckland, New Zealand
P.S. My brother says reindeer cannot possibly fly, but I told him you would prove him wrong.
Consider him proven wrong, Isla. Tell him I will wave on my way past, assuming he is watching the sky instead of arguing with it.
