Christmas has lost its earlier zest, feel people

Despite the festive air Christmas brings in its wake, is the festival losing its sheen? It seems so.

For, according to Fredrick Pereira, 48, a number of things synonymous with the festival have dimmed. “I have noticed that Christmas carols have come down compared with a few years ago. Most cakes and confectioneries these days are bought from shops rather than baked at home. Earlier baking cakes, making cookies and other goodies at home would be a joyous occasion in itself,” he said.

On a philosophical note, Danston John, 29, church pastor, feels that emphasis “has shifted from family and worship to buying products and gadgets.”

If purchases of Christmas decorations and paraphernalia, so characteristic of the season, could be used as a gauge of people’s enthusiasm, then it does not look bright.   

Dassan, 28, who deals in Christmas decorations and has set up a shop on the premises of St Mary Basilica in Shivajinagar, said business this year was one of the worst in many years. “Compared to previous years, we sold 25 per cent to 30 per cent less this year. I do not know whether this is an indication of the diminishing spirit of Christmas. However, it definitely takes the flavour out of the festive mood in a house that is celebrating the season,” he said.

Dassan attributed this to a change in shoppers’ habits and online shopping frenzy that has caught the public’s fancy. “It seems people no longer want to make the effort and come to shops,” he said.

Priyanka Raj, 25, who works with a multinational company, is of the opinion that these things should be looked more as inevitable changes in the trends rather than something negative. “Instead of going to church, people like to engage with one another and go for outreach programmes. Celebrating Christmas at workplace has become big these days, which brightens the season,” he said.