JOIN USThe chill may be in, so is the warmth. ‘Merry Christmas’ greetings are enough for strangers to bond and handclasps to get firmer. Misers turn spendthrifts when it comes to giving away to those who pass their hats around.
Joy and excitement are written all over the City this season. Shops across the City are ringing Jingle Bells and selling gifts, flooding households with decorative knick-knacks, specially designed for the festival.
Metrolife spoke to a few families in the City who say Christmas is all about giving and giving rather generously. It’s a time set apart exclusively for the family.
Thirty-two-year old Santana Davis and his family have decorated their house with LED lights. The Christmas tree and the crib have been put up since the first week of December itself.
“We invite about 100 close friends and relatives for dinner. There’s plenty of food, drinks and homemade wine and sweets to gorge on,” says Santana.
While partying and merry-marrying is just one aspect of Christmas, there are a few people who like to spend the day with the less privileged. Time spent with orphans, in an old age home or sponsoring a meal for the poor add much meaning to the celebration. Lorraine C, a Goan, says apart from spending time with family and friends, she bakes cakes and makes a few sweets which she distributes among the people of a few old age homes.
“The old can’t really make these sweets during Christmas. And it’s nice to see them enjoy the dishes I make. All the sweets such as Kalkals, chocolate fudges, marzapans and rose cookies are distributed among family,” says Lorraine.
“Christmas morning begins with attending the church mass,” says Suja Bennet. She says the day is spent at home with the family. “We always visit an orphanage or an old age home and distribute some sweets or sponsor a meal. I always think Christmas must bring out the spirit of giving and sharing,” says Suja.
Young men and women are changing too. Pearl Mukadam and her music band take time off to go carol singing among the aged and the sick, “Christmas is a very family-centred festival and carol singing is an integral part of the season. We usually go on carol rounds to those who are ailing. Music surely cheers them up,” says Pearl.
For Bartholomeo Gomes, Christmas Day starts with midnight mass and opening of presents thereafter. “We have a family lunch with a turkey (or duck) and all the trappings. Three generations of family come together at this time,” Bartholomeo
signs off.