by Martina, age 9, asks what families do on Christmas Eve worldwide, about the Andes, and the equator
Dear Santa,
Hola from Quito. My name is Martina and I am 9 years old. Here in Ecuador, Christmas Eve is actually the biggest part of the whole celebration, with a huge family meal and a midnight church service called Misa del Gallo, which means Mass of the Rooster.
My first question is: what do families around the world typically do specifically on Christmas Eve?
My second question is geography: what mountain range and famous volcano is near Quito?
My third question is from school: why does Quito sit almost exactly on the equator?
I left you humitas, a corn dish wrapped in husks, and a small cup of hot chocolate.
Love, Martina, age 9, Quito, Ecuador
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Martina, humitas were warm and delicious, thank you very much. Now, to your Christmas Eve question, and your others.
What do families typically do on Christmas Eve?
In many countries, especially across Latin America and much of Europe, Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day itself, is the main event, with a large family feast held in the evening, followed sometimes by a midnight church service, exactly like your own Misa del Gallo. Some families open presents that very night rather than waiting until morning. In other countries, especially in parts of the English-speaking world, Christmas Eve is treated more as a quieter build-up, with the big celebration saved for Christmas morning instead. So the exact traditions genuinely shift depending on where you are, but Christmas Eve almost everywhere carries a special, anticipatory kind of magic.
What mountain range and volcano is near Quito?
Quito sits high in the Andes mountains, surrounded by volcanoes, including the active Cotopaxi, one of the tallest active volcanoes in the entire world, visible on a clear day from the city itself.
Why does Quito sit almost exactly on the equator?
Ecuador is actually named after the equator, since the country sits almost precisely on that imaginary line dividing the Earth’s northern and southern halves. A monument just outside Quito marks the exact spot, where visitors can famously stand with one foot in each hemisphere at once.
Enjoy your Misa del Gallo, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
