by Diego from Santa Ana asks Santa how to say Christmas in Spanish, learns about the Ilamatepec volcano, and hears about El Salvador’s nacimientos and Christmas Eve fireworks
Dear Santa, my name is Diego and I am eight years old. I live in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where my tío says our whole country is small enough that you could drive from one coast to the mountains in a single day.
Dear Diego, I have made a similar quick trip myself while delivering here, and your tío is entirely right about how compact your beautiful country is.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, how do you say Christmas in Spanish? My cousin from the United States is visiting and I want to teach her properly.
It is Navidad, Diego, a lovely word used across the Spanish-speaking world. Teaching your cousin that word sounds like a wonderful way to start her visit.
My second question is about our volcano. My teacher says a volcano near our city has a lake right inside it. Is Ilamatepec really like that?
It is, Diego. The Ilamatepec volcano, also known as Santa Ana Volcano, has a striking turquoise crater lake at its summit, one of the most beautiful volcanic sights in Central America. Flying near it each Christmas Eve, moonlight catching that colorful water, is genuinely memorable.
My third question is about fireworks. My whole neighborhood sets off fireworks right at midnight on Christmas Eve, louder than any other night of the year. Why is that tradition so big here?
Fireworks at midnight on Nochebuena are a beloved, energetic Salvadoran tradition, Diego, marking the exact moment Christmas officially begins with light and sound shared by the whole community at once. I always enjoy watching the sky light up across the country in that same joyful instant.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Diego Alvarado
Santa Ana, El Salvador
P.S. Do the fireworks scare the reindeer?
Every year, Diego, except Rudolph, who always insists on watching from the front.
