by Emina, age 8, writes to Santa from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and asks how fast does santa’s sleigh go?
Dear Santa,
My name is Emina, and I am 8 years old. I live in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where her papa still tells the story of the old stone bridge that had to be rebuilt after the war.
Dear Emina, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Mostar. 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 fast does Santa’s sleigh go? My mom and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
Fast enough to visit every child in every time zone in a single night, which my elves tell me is technically impossible, and which I have therefore stopped explaining and simply keep doing anyway.
Second, my teacher was telling us about the Neretva River, the bright turquoise river that runs right underneath the bridge near her house. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The neretva river, the bright turquoise river that runs right underneath the bridge near her house 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 bosnia and Herzegovina observes several religious calendars at once? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. Bosnia and herzegovina observes several religious calendars at once, so neighbors often celebrate christmas on different days depending on their faith. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Bosnia and Herzegovina feel like Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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, Emina. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Mostar. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Emina
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
P.S. Does Deda Mraz ever visit Mostar too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Deda Mraz handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
