by Amaru from Cuenca asks Santa about elves, learns Ecuador sits on the equator, and hears about the Pase del Niño Viajero parade
Dear Santa, my name is Amaru and I am nine years old. I live in Cuenca, Ecuador, where my tía says our country is named after a very specific imaginary line that circles the whole planet.
Dear Amaru, your tía is entirely correct, and it is one of my favorite facts about your beautiful country.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, do you know Christmas elves personally, or are there simply too many for you to remember all their names?
I know a great many personally, Amaru, though I confess a few of the newer hires still occasionally get called by the wrong name. They are remarkably forgiving about it, thankfully.
My second question is about the equator. My teacher says Ecuador is named after it and that you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere near Quito. Is that true?
It is entirely true, Amaru. Ecuador takes its name from the equator, which passes directly through the country, and there is a well-known monument near Quito where visitors can stand with one foot in each half of the world. Crossing that exact line by sleigh always feels like a small, special moment in my journey.
My third question is about the Pase del Niño Viajero. Every December our whole city has a huge parade with decorated animals and children dressed up. Why is that parade so special here in Cuenca?
The Pase del Niño Viajero is one of Ecuador’s most beloved Christmas traditions, Amaru, a grand parade held in Cuenca every December 24th, featuring elaborately decorated floats, costumed children, and even dressed-up animals, celebrating the journey of the Christ child. It is one of the most colorful, joyful processions on my entire route, and I always slow down considerably to enjoy it properly.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Amaru Quishpe
Cuenca, Ecuador
P.S. Have you ever ridden in the parade yourself?
Once, Amaru, in 1988. The reindeer were not entirely sure what to make of it.
