by Yara from Nazareth asks Santa about the meaning of Christmas, learns about the Sea of Galilee’s historical significance, and hears about the region’s deep, layered history of hope
Dear Santa, my name is Yara and I am nine years old. I live near Nazareth, where my teta says our hills have carried more history than almost anywhere else on Earth, quietly, for thousands of years.
Dear Yara, I have flown over those quiet hills for a very long time myself, and your teta’s words carry real weight and truth.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, what is the Christmas meaning, really, underneath all the lights and presents? My teacher asked our class that question and I want a proper answer.
At its heart, Christmas celebrates hope arriving quietly, in humble circumstances, and the enduring belief that kindness and love can begin in the smallest, simplest of places. Everything else, the lights, the gifts, the songs, grew up gently around that original, simple idea.
My second question is about our region. My teacher says the Sea of Galilee is not actually a sea at all. Is that true?
It is, Yara. The Sea of Galilee is actually a large freshwater lake, historically significant to the region, its shores holding thousands of years of stories. Flying near its calm water each December is a genuinely peaceful, meaningful part of my route.
My third question is, why do so many different traditions and beliefs all trace something important back to this same small region?
This region holds deep historical and spiritual significance for many different faiths and communities, layered across thousands of years of history, each honoring it in their own way. I think that shared reverence for one small, ancient place says something meaningful about how connected people truly are, even across very different beliefs.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Yara Haddad
Nazareth
P.S. Do you fly slower over this region than anywhere else?
Every year, Yara. Out of real, quiet respect.
