by Amina, age 9 from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, asks Santa about the Christmas date, the 1984 Winter Olympics, and Bosnia’s religious diversity.
Dear Santa, my name is Amina, and I am nine years old. I live in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where my nena says our city once hosted the Winter Olympics, right in the mountains surrounding us.
Dear Amina, those Olympic mountains make for one of the most dramatic landing approaches on my whole European route, your nena picked a truly scenic hometown.
Santa, I have three questions.
What is the Christmas date? My baba celebrates on December 25th but my komsija celebrates on January 7th, and I always get confused.
You are not confused at all, Amina, both dates are correct, just for different traditions. Catholic and many Protestant families usually celebrate on December 25th, while many Orthodox Christian families follow an older calendar and celebrate on January 7th. I simply pack two rounds of deliveries and enjoy every bit of it.
My teacher says Sarajevo sits surrounded by mountains, which is why it hosted the Winter Olympics. Is that true?
It is true, Amina, Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984, right in those very mountains ringing your city. I always enjoy that snowy, dramatic backdrop on my way to your rooftop.
My nena says Bosnia is home to Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Catholic families all living in the same neighborhoods. Is that true?
It is true, Amina, Bosnia has long been home to a rich mix of Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Catholic communities living side by side. That kind of everyday neighborliness across different beliefs, sharing streets and stories, is really one of my favorite things to witness on my entire route.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Amina Hadzic
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
P.S. Do you get tired keeping track of two different Christmas dates?
Never, Amina, a little extra bookkeeping is a small price for two chances at Christmas joy.
