by Yamilet, age 9 from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, asks Santa how to say Christmas Eve in Spanish, the city’s founding, and sharing Hispaniola with Haiti.
Dear Santa, my name is Yamilet, and I am nine years old. I live in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where my abuela says our city is the oldest one built by Europeans anywhere in the Americas.
Dear Yamilet, a city that old deserves a very careful, very respectful visit every single year, your abuela picked a truly historic hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
How do you say Christmas Eve in Spanish? My abuela always says a word before our big dinner but I forget it.
It is Nochebuena, Yamilet, which literally means good night, and it is the name for the whole big celebration on December 24th. I make sure to practice that word carefully before every single Dominican stop.
My teacher says Santo Domingo was founded a very long time ago, back in 1496. Is that true?
It is true, Yamilet, Santo Domingo is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city established by Europeans anywhere in the Americas. I always slow the sleigh down to admire those centuries of history below me.
My abuela says the Dominican Republic shares its whole island with another country, Haiti. Is that true?
It is true, Yamilet, the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola, two distinct countries living side by side on the very same land. That kind of neighborly sharing, however different two communities may be, is really something worth respecting.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Yamilet Pena
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
P.S. Will you say Nochebuena when you visit our house this year?
Every single time, Yamilet, I have been practicing all month.
