Santa Singh and the Khalsa Tree
This time of the year always makes me wonder how children in our community perceive Christmas. As a child I don’t remember having a Christmas tree in my house or any talk about Santa Claus coming with gifts (maybe my parents wanted to “keep it real” for me!). However, now that I have a niece and nephew, I do wonder how to create a sense of celebration for them so they don’t feel isolated from their non-Sikh friends. New Year’s day has always held more significance for me, and our family tradition is starting the year with a sense of peace and renewal by attending the Gurdwara.
Family friends of ours in Toronto have been creating a Sikh celebration, in a sense, for their children on Christmas day. The children put ornaments on their Khalsa Tree, and wait for Santa Singh to bring their gifts. (I am also pretty sure ladoos are awaiting him as an alternative to cookies!). They don’t celebrate the birth of Christ, but instead the birth of our tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When I first heard about their tradition I was impressed that someone had thought to substitute every part of the day in order to teach their children our traditions, and at the same time do the things that go along with the commercialistic nature of the holiday.
Often I find myself teaching many of my non-Sikh friends about the special days we have in our religion throughout the year. They really enjoy learning about my religion and I feel it’s important especially since they would not normally have the opportunity to be educated about Sikhs and what we stand for. One friend once commented how lucky I was to have so many days to celebrate. He was absolutely right – we really are blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate our strong history throughout the year. If as a community we can begin to incorporate the importance of our history and these days into the next generation, we can truly preserve an essence of what Sikhi has to offer.
13 Responses to “Santa Singh and the Khalsa Tree”
a great way to encourage our kids to join their peers in celebrating the holidays but also allowing for an opportunity to incorporate our own teachings into their lives. i think i will introduce the 'khalsa tree' to my kids next year!
a great way to encourage our kids to join their peers in celebrating the holidays but also allowing for an opportunity to incorporate our own teachings into their lives. i think i will introduce the ‘khalsa tree’ to my kids next year!
Just please please don't make Sardar and Sardarni Santa Singh living at the north pole and ride in a sled led by Rudolph. The reindeer already have to earn their living on christmas eve. And instead of saying ho ho ho, how about Santa Singh saying something like "Chut de pha te". Would a piece of coal still apply for bad kids or do we need to change that to a cow patty?
Sorry couldn't resist making a humorous reply. 😉
Just please please don’t make Sardar and Sardarni Santa Singh living at the north pole and ride in a sled led by Rudolph. The reindeer already have to earn their living on christmas eve. And instead of saying ho ho ho, how about Santa Singh saying something like “Chut de pha te”. Would a piece of coal still apply for bad kids or do we need to change that to a cow patty?
Sorry couldn’t resist making a humorous reply. 😉
Oh Kismet Tree, Oh Kismet Tree!
I think this is putting a spin, on a spin. Xmas was a Pagans did when Christians assimilated them.
*insert the horror*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule
Oh Kis met tree oh kiss met tree!
I saw mummy kissing santa singh.
The Little Dholi
Oh Kismet Tree, Oh Kismet Tree!
I think this is putting a spin, on a spin. Xmas was a Pagans did when Christians assimilated them.
*insert the horror*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule
Oh Kis met tree oh kiss met tree!
I saw mummy kissing santa singh.
The Little Dholi
i find it uplifting that we have parents who are creating new traditions for their children to keep them connected to sikh history, but something about a khalsa tree and santa singh during the christian christmas holiday rubs me the wrong way. is it really healthy for us as a religious community to basically christianize/paganize our holidays (shaheedi purb)?
i find it uplifting that we have parents who are creating new traditions for their children to keep them connected to sikh history, but something about a khalsa tree and santa singh during the christian christmas holiday rubs me the wrong way. is it really healthy for us as a religious community to basically christianize/paganize our holidays (shaheedi purb)?
up until my sister and i were around 10 and 8, we had a christmas tree in our fairly religious sikh household. i don't think my parents ever saw it as any sort of christian observance. despite their naiveness and lack of cynicism…or maybe because of it…i think they just saw it was what it is for most americans – a commercial, hallmark holiday. they even helped the rest of the world convince me that santa claus existed. but when i didn't get a dirt bike after the fifth straight year of putting one on my santa list, i wised up and called them out. we didn't have christmas tree the next year.
up until my sister and i were around 10 and 8, we had a christmas tree in our fairly religious sikh household. i don’t think my parents ever saw it as any sort of christian observance. despite their naiveness and lack of cynicism…or maybe because of it…i think they just saw it was what it is for most americans – a commercial, hallmark holiday. they even helped the rest of the world convince me that santa claus existed. but when i didn’t get a dirt bike after the fifth straight year of putting one on my santa list, i wised up and called them out. we didn’t have christmas tree the next year.
I've heard of the Khalsa Tree and the Peace Tree being substitutes for a Christmas Tree and think it’s a great idea. What is the alternative – many families feel the “pressure” of celebrating the holiday season in some way for their children, this alternative allows families to incorporate Sikh teachings into the holiday season – not necessarily on December 25th but throughout the season.
I’ve heard of the Khalsa Tree and the Peace Tree being substitutes for a Christmas Tree and think it’s a great idea. What is the alternative – many families feel the “pressure” of celebrating the holiday season in some way for their children, this alternative allows families to incorporate Sikh teachings into the holiday season – not necessarily on December 25th but throughout the season.
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