by Santiago, age 8, writes to Santa from Bogota, Colombia, and asks what does santa eat on christmas eve?
Dear Santa,
My name is Santiago, and I am 8 years old. I live in Bogota, Colombia, where his abuelo lights a candle on every windowsill for Dia de las Velitas at the start of December.
Dear Santiago, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Bogota. 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, what does Santa eat on Christmas Eve? My mom and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
Whatever kind souls like you leave out for me, which by the end of the night adds up to an enormous and slightly alarming variety of cookies, milk, and the occasional carrot for the reindeer.
Second, my teacher was telling us about the Andes Mountains, which surround his city on nearly every side. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The andes mountains, which surround his city on nearly every side 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 in Colombia? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In colombia, the christmas season officially begins on december 7th with the day of the little candles, when whole neighborhoods light up together. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Colombia feel like Colombia, 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, Santiago. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Bogota. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Santiago
Bogota, Colombia
P.S. Does Papa Noel ever visit Bogota too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Papa Noel handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
