It was just a few years in the past, in some circumstances just a few months, that that they had by no means heard “White Christmas,” not to mention knew what one regarded like … and lots of had no thought who Santa Claus was, both.

However right here they had been, standing in line to see the jolly previous fellow within the pink swimsuit, similar to the remainder of us.

The educational curve is sharp when warfare or poverty or political divides — and generally all three — ship refugees to the US of America, however nothing helps flatten out that curve fairly like Christmastime.

Annually since 2013 (apart from the COVID-19 years), this has been borne out on the Gathering of Mild Celebration, a celebration hosted by the Utah Refugee Connection to assist those that have been relocated right here really feel the vacation spirit — and see how America does Christmas.

An estimated 2,000 attended this 12 months’s celebration, held final Saturday at Lincoln Elementary Faculty. Just lately minted American residents from the Far East, Close to East, Center East, South America, Central America, the African continent and all factors in between began exhibiting up simply earlier than the official beginning time of three p.m. and stored coming all afternoon as greater than 100 volunteer guides helped ease any language and cultural boundaries.

Present-giving stations had been unfold out throughout the college’s gymnasium flooring. In a single nook, littler children got stuffed animals; in one other nook youngsters acquired headphones and “Utah You Belong Right here” sweatshirts. On the household reward desk, heat blankets and photo voltaic panels had been handed out to the grownups.

Different stations provided face-painting and crafts and Krispy Kreme donuts and photographs with Elsa, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Snow White. All had prolonged traces. 

However the longest line by far was the one to see Santa.

Greeting the youngsters, younger and previous, was Milton Collins, a Santa duly deputized and approved by the North Pole.

Collins has volunteered to be Santa ever since he realized the primary celebration was to be held at Lincoln Elementary, the place he additionally occurs to be the college principal.

Few perceive what refugees are going by means of greater than the principal of a college the place upwards of a 3rd of his college students are refugees.

A faculty the place you may stroll down the corridor, he says, “and listen to 24 completely different languages.”

And whereas it’s true these immigrants have been given an ideal reward to search out themselves in a secure land the place they’re freed from oppression, it’s additionally true they’re a good distance from house.

“I like to see them pleased; I like watching them smile,” says Collins.

Naturally, a number of the children going by means of the road acknowledge him.

“They know me. They go, ‘hey?’”

“I simply inform them, ‘I’m Mr. Collins on Monday; as we speak, I’m Mr. Santa.’”

Standing off to the facet, observing a Black man from Mississippi posing for photographs with children of all colours sitting on his knee — hailing from Afghanistan to Ukraine to Somalia and who is aware of the place else — a hijab-wearing girl from Sudan named Zinab Adam takes within the scene and smiles.

“He’s a really good man,” she observes.

Does she imply Collins or Santa, she’s requested.

One other smile.

“The children,” she says, “they will imagine.”

Zinab is right here as a volunteer, serving to out wherever she’s wanted. Seven years in the past she attended her first Gathering of Mild occasion shortly after arriving in Utah. 4 years in the past she determined she wished to change from the receiving to the giving facet of issues.

“I’ve acquired rather a lot from this metropolis and I’ve to do one thing to say thanks,” she explains.

And so goes the all-inclusive get together that has develop into a Salt Lake custom.

So many individuals step up and provides to make it an annual success, says Amy Dott Harmer, government director of the all-volunteer Utah Refugee Connection. Some $70,000 in donations poured on this 12 months from sponsors that embrace the Ken Garff Automotive Group, the Utah Jazz, Granite Faculty District, Minky Couture and different firms. That’s along with the a whole bunch of hours given by volunteers.

All to let newcomers who’ve needed to flee very robust situations, by means of no fault of their very own, really feel wished and to get one thing again.

“Refugees are a number of the most unfortunate folks I do know,” says Harmer, who cites a quote from the writer Michael Lewis to sum up how she feels and why occasions just like the Gathering of Mild are essential and mandatory:

“Above all, acknowledge that in case you have had success, you may have additionally had luck — and with luck comes obligation. You owe a debt, and never simply to your Gods. You owe a debt to the unfortunate.”