Syrian refugee families celebrate the holidays with a Christmas party

Syrian refugee families were treated to a Christmas celebration on Sunday with more than 50 enjoying singing, face painting and of course, presents from Santa.

It was the first Christmas celebration in Canada for many of the families, who arrived from places like Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan late last year.

The idea for the festive affair came from a 10-year-old girl who recently arrived with her family and wondered whether Santa would be able find them, said Syrian Refugee Support Group co-founder Saima Jamal.

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"She asked me, 'Is Papa Noel going to be coming and giving us gifts this year?'" Jamal said.

"Because she came from Jordan and for the last few years she didn't see any Christmas or Papa Noel, which is Santa Claus in their language."

Jamal assured the little girl the jolly old elf would, in fact, be making a visit.

"We told them 'Of course Santa is going to come because we live in Canada now and Santa's home is much closer to Canada than Syria or Jordan, so he is definitely not going to be missing you guys this year,'" said Jamal.

And Santa did show up to the event at the Marlborough Park Community Centre.

Volunteer Roula Aboukhodoud took part, she said, to allow families "to enjoy something they haven't done in so long."

"They're free to have fun," she said. "To have gatherings together, kids going crazy and wild and just being kids. To let them experience what Canada is all about and the different cultures they're going to find around them."