Many communities, one festival

same spirit

Different Christian communities celebrate Christmas in their own individual style. No two feasts would be the same in terms of food, clothes or even the mode of celebration. That’s the beauty of one festival being celebrated in so many different ways.

Metrolife takes a peek into the festivities of a few Christian communities and captures the spirit of their celebrations. When it comes to food, the main menu largely remains the same but the additions and small add-ons make a huge difference. Christmas morning begins with a church service and thereafter, families and friends plunge in non stop celebration.

The Tamilians, Malayalis, Goans, Mangaloreans and Anglo-Indians ring in Christmas with a host of family and friends. Most make sure they treat their non-Christian friends to a sumptuous Christmas lunch.

The Anglo-Indian community begins their day with a church mass and then kickstart preparations for the Christmas lunch after a family prayer and a toast with home-made wine. Ophelia Raj, an Anglo-Indian who works for a BPO, says home-made kal kals, rose cookies and date rolls are the snacks. “Christmas is an occasion for everybody to get together with a grand Christmas lunch with stuffed chicken, salads and an array of desserts.

With more and more nuclear families, people hardly find time for extended family and friends. Unlike earlier, now there’s so much of good ready-made stuff available in the market and that has made things easier,” says Ophelia and adds, “Just that we miss those good old days where we would wait for our turn to decorate the tree.”

Anto Franklen, a Tamilian, says his Christmas begins with a midnight church mass. “It’s a time of togetherness and more than indulging in extravagant celebration, we spend a lot of quality time with the family. In addition to a grand feast, it’s an occasion to make people around you happy. That’s the real meaning of Christmas,” explains Anto. While partying and merry-making is just one aspect of Christmas, there are a few people who like to spend the day with the underprivileged. Spending time with orphans or in an old age home or sponsoring a meal for the poor add much meaning to the celebration.

Loretta D Souza, a Mangalorean, 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 ‘kal kals’, chocolate fudges, marzipan and rose cookies are distributed among family,” Loretta concludes.