Imagine for a moment that you were born to immigrant parents and that much of your childhood was shaped by their adjustment to living in this country while keeping what they could of their own traditions and non-Christian faith. There was no mention of Christmas or Santa Claus in your home, and it wasn’t until you attended public school that you first heard about this incredible holiday with presents brought down a chimney by a cheerful man in a red suit. Santa, to you, would be just another wonderful American character - like Snoopy or Scooby-Doo.
That’s what it was like for me growing up outside of Chicago with immigrant parents from India. At age 11 I moved with my family to California where the politically correct greeting of “Happy Holidays” replaced “Merry Christmas” and holiday songs were prohibited in our “all welcoming” public schools. Later, our family relocated to Alaska - just seven hours from the North Pole! – and we enjoyed taking visitors to see The Santa Claus House, a Christmas-themed gift store with a 42-foot Santa statue impressively situated in front.
The truth is, as a non-Christian, I was never really affected by the fact that I don’t celebrate Christmas … until I had children.
At our house we celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr with our friends from the Mosque. But once my eldest daughter started preschool, she started asking questions about Christmas and whether we believed in Santa Claus. Would he be bringing her presents? It was easy for me to say no, that we don’t believe in Santa because we are Muslim and we don’t celebrate Christmas. When she asked if Santa knows that we’re Muslim I simply explained that there is no such thing as Santa and that kids get presents from their parents.
Yes, you read that right: I told my 4-year-old that Santa is not real and that parents give the presents. You can imagine how that went.
It was only a matter of time before my husband got a call at work from a parent telling us that our first-grade daughter had burst the bubble for the kids on the bus. In all honesty, I was surprised that it was considered such a serious offense. It was clear that I just didn’t “get” Santa because I didn't experience it growing up.
I backpedaled as much as possible, telling my kids, “Don’t tell others what I told you - it’s our secret.” But that’s a lot of diplomacy to ask of such young people. I did my job so well that the following year, when my eldest was in second grade, she came home from school and guiltily blurted out to me, “I’m so sorry but I told kids that I do believe in Santa. I didn’t want to be left out.”
Living for over ten years now in Newburyport, Mass., where Christmas is the norm, I believe it’s especially important that we teach our kids about those who celebrate different holidays such as Eid, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. It is important that we understand and appreciate a wide variety of traditions and customs. I understand this now, having underestimated what Santa means to families who celebrate Christmas.
For my family, I believe that we have finally found a balance in being American Muslims while also understanding that Christmas is more than just a religious holiday. It is also a cultural celebration with family and friends. I find myself eagerly anticipating the fun times with holiday cookie swaps, holiday decorations, and our local holiday events.
I have also come to learn what Santa really means to people. He is not only a jolly old man in a red suit, but also a symbol of goodness, kindness, and innocence - something we can all appreciate and welcome with a resounding “Merry Christmas”!
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Afroz Khan is an electrical engineering consultant, a board member of the Newburyport Elementary PTO, and in 2016 was appointed by the mayor as a member of Newburyport's Local Cultural Council. She and her husband have two daughters.
