by Alessia, age 9, writes to Santa from Venice, Italy, and asks how does santa know if you have been good?
Dear Santa,
My name is Alessia, and I am 9 years old. I live in Venice, Italy, where her nonna rows a little boat down the canal instead of driving anywhere, even in December.
Dear Alessia, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Venice. It tells me you are paying close attention to the world around you, which is a fine habit to keep. Please keep noticing things like that.
Santa, I have three questions. First, how does Santa know if you have been good? My dad and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
I keep a very long list, though mostly I trust that children know in their own hearts when they have been kind, and that matters more to me than any list ever could.
Second, my grandpa was telling us about the Grand Canal, the main waterway that winds through the middle of her whole city. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The grand canal, the main waterway that winds through the middle of her whole city is one of the sights the reindeer look forward to most, and I always tell the newer reindeer to watch closely as we pass over, because there are not many views in the whole wide world quite like it. Rudolph tends to slow down just a little right there, and I have learned not to rush him.
Third, is it true that in Italy? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In italy, la befana flies on a broomstick on the night of january 5th, leaving candy for good children and a lump of coal for mischief. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Italy feel like Italy, and they are precisely the sort of thing that keeps a community close together, especially in the winter months.
Thank you for your letter and your good questions, Alessia. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Venice. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Alessia
Venice, Italy
P.S. Does La Befana ever visit Venice too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and La Befana handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
