Shantanu Datta, a recent immigrant to Saskatoon, was surprised by his 11-year-old daughter handing him a letter one warm Tuesday afternoon. She asked him to post it for her, explaining that it was a letter to Santa Claus. Despite being new to Canada, she believed Santa would receive it in time since they were closer to the North Pole. The letter included a request for snow, a hot topic in their discussions lately.
The daughter’s wish for a snowy Christmas brought back memories of their journey from New Delhi to Canada. She was excited about experiencing a real snowy Christmas, unlike the cotton wool “snowflakes” common in India. Her expectations of Canada were shaped by online news from Saskatchewan, where snow was already present in October.
As they anticipate a brown Christmas and New Year due to the lack of snow in Saskatoon, the family is reminded of the traditional snowy holiday scenes depicted in Hollywood movies. The daughter wonders how Santa will deliver gifts without snow, prompting her father to humorously imagine Santa taking alternative transportation methods.
With climate change discussions at the forefront during COP28, the family contemplates the possibility of more brown Christmases in the future. As they witness deflated festive decorations around town, they acknowledge the potential impact of climate change on their holiday traditions. The daughter, despite her jests, expresses a hint of sadness about the unconventional Christmas she may experience in sunny Saskatoon.
As they navigate the unusual weather patterns and the absence of snow, the family reflects on the need for greater environmental awareness and action to address climate change issues.
