by Pavel, age 7, writes to Santa from Brest, Belarus, and asks where does santa live?
Dear Santa,
My name is Pavel, and I am 7 years old. I live in Brest, Belarus, where his dyadya says the old fortress nearby survived one of the longest sieges in the whole war.
Dear Pavel, that is exactly the sort of detail I like to hear about Brest. 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, where does Santa live? My dad and I were arguing about it at breakfast.
The North Pole, of course, in a workshop that never quite shows up clearly on any map, which the elves insist is intentional so tourists do not track slush all over the toy floor.
Second, my grandpa was telling us about the Bug River, which forms part of the border between his country and Poland. Do you fly over that on your Christmas Eve route?
Every single year, without fail. The bug river, which forms part of the border between his country and poland 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 Belarus? My family was talking about it and I want to know if it is real.
It certainly is true. In belarus, a traditional dish called kutya, made of wheat berries and honey, is the very first thing eaten at the holiday meal. I think that is a wonderful thing for a family to talk about, because customs like that are exactly what make Belarus feel like Belarus, 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, Pavel. Keep noticing the world around you, keep asking honest questions, and keep being kind to the people in Brest. That is the whole spirit of Christmas right there. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Pavel
Brest, Belarus
P.S. Does Dzied Maroz ever visit Brest too, or is that only your job?
We split the map fairly evenly, and Dzied Maroz handles that part of the world beautifully. Consider it a very old and very friendly arrangement.
