by Nathaniel, age 10 from Toledo, asks Viejito Pascuero about summertime Christmas in Chile and the Andes Mountains.
A Letter to Viejito Pascuero from Nathaniel in Toledo, Ohio
Dear Viejito Pascuero, my name is Nathaniel and I am ten years old. I live in Toledo, Ohio, and I learned that Christmas happens during summer in Chile, so I have questions:
- Did a toy store in Santiago name you back in 1905?
- Do Chilean children leave out treats for you?
- Do you come down the chimney?
- Do you come on Christmas Eve?
- Do you have helpers?
- Do you have reindeer?
- Do you look like the American Santa?
- Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
- Why do you have a special name only used in Chile?
- Your name means Old Man Christmas, are you like Santa?
- Geography: Chile is an extremely long, narrow country. What mountain range runs along nearly its entire eastern border?
- Social Studies: Since Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, how does its December weather compare to countries north of the equator during Christmas?
Thanks, Nathaniel
Viejito Pascuero Writes Back
Did a toy store in Santiago name you back in 1905?
According to popular history, yes, Nathaniel, a well known Santiago department store helped popularize my modern image and name in the early 1900s, which stuck ever since.
Do Chilean children leave out treats for you?
Yes, Chilean children often leave out small treats, and many families enjoy a festive holiday meal together on Christmas Eve.
Do you come down the chimney?
Chimney, when a home happens to have one, though many Chilean homes require a bit of extra creativity given the warm December weather.
Do you come on Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve night, yes, right after a big family dinner, similar to traditions across much of Latin America.
Do you have helpers?
A small team helps me prepare, especially during Chile’s busy summertime shopping season leading up to Christmas.
Do you have reindeer?
I keep a sleigh with reindeer for tradition’s sake, even though Chile’s warm December weather makes for a rather unusual, snowless flight.
Do you look like the American Santa?
Quite similar in appearance, red suit and white beard, largely shaped by the same popular imagery found across the Americas.
Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
Yes, a red suit, sometimes in lighter fabric, given how warm Chilean summers can get by late December.
Why do you have a special name only used in Chile?
Local Chilean culture and history shaped my own distinct name and personality over time, separate from the Papa Noel name used in many neighboring countries.
Your name means Old Man Christmas, are you like Santa?
That’s right, Viejito Pascuero roughly means Old Man of the Holiday, and yes, I am considered Chile’s own version of Santa Claus.
Geography: Chile is an extremely long, narrow country. What mountain range runs along nearly its entire eastern border?
The Andes Mountains run along nearly Chile’s entire eastern border, an enormous, dramatic mountain range that helps make Chile one of the longest, narrowest countries in the world.
Social Studies: Since Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, how does its December weather compare to countries north of the equator during Christmas?
Since Chile sits in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons run opposite to countries like the United States, which means Christmas arrives during the warmth of summer rather than winter. Many Chilean families celebrate with outdoor gatherings and lighter meals, adapting traditional Christmas customs to fit their sunny December weather.
