On a warm Tuesday afternoon, my 11-year-old daughter surprised me by handing me a letter meant for Santa Claus. She explained that despite being new to Canada, she was confident Santa would receive it on time as we are closer to the North Pole. Her request for “some snow please (lots, if possible)” on the letter reminded me of her anticipation for a real snowy Christmas in Canada, unlike the artificial snowflakes made in India.
Our conversations often revolve around snow these days. As I looked at her handwritten letter, I remembered her excitement about experiencing a genuine snowy holiday season in Canada. She had formed her expectations based on news from Saskatchewan showing snow as we prepared to move from New Delhi.
The imagery of snowy Christmas scenes from Hollywood movies further fueled her anticipation. She envisioned sledding, cozy moments by the fire, and people enjoying hot chocolate in snow-covered landscapes. The absence of snow in Saskatoon during mid-December made her worry about a brown Christmas and a snowless New Year.
While climate change discussions were ongoing at the COP28 conference, the possibility of more brown Christmases in our region raised concerns. As I accompany my daughter to school each morning, the sight of deflated festive balloons symbolizes the possible lack of snow during her first Christmas in sunny Saskatoon.
As we navigate this changing climate reality, my daughter’s hopes for a snowy holiday season remain uncertain. The anticipation of a white Christmas lingers, but the current weather trends suggest otherwise. The future of snowy celebrations in our new home remains a question mark amid the changing climate landscape.