I wish to meet Santa Claus  

Panagiota, Age 5, Greece

When volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Greece met five-year-old Panagiota, only a few minutes passed before the little girl expressed her most heartfelt wish - to meet Santa Claus. Soon afterward, she was holding Santa’s letter, inviting little Panagiota to his home to meet her!

During the journey, her excitement kept growing. It was not long until the big day came. With the company of her parents and a volunteer, she arrived in “Santa Claus Village” in Finland. An elf was eagerly waiting to show her all of Santa’s secrets and take her on a tour of his office. When Panagiota saw Santa, she was amazed. The previously vivacious girl was standing speechless! When he greeted her in Greek, saying her name, she fell into his arms giving him a big hug. She gave him the drawing she had made for him, and he gave her a special present. Santa, his elves, the little girl and her parents ended up holding hands and dancing together to the traditional Greek songs that little Panagiota was singing!

But the surprises were not over! The next day, Panagiota found a letter from Santa in her hotel room, explaining why he had invited her to see him. Santa wanted to be sure she was a good little girl before making her one of his Little Helpers! Words are not enough to describe Panagiota’s joy as she opened Santa’s present revealing her Little Helper’s costume and Santa’s magic dust! The little girl still plays daily with her magic dust and is looking forward to Christmas, to see Santa again.

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