Christmas, for many, conjures up images of snow fights, chimneys and Santa Claus. But in India, this universal festival is celebrated with each Christian community lending its own inherited traditions. Ditto in a multicultural city like Bangalore. Reddy Christians, Syrian Christians, Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Christians, Konkani Christians, Tigala Christians: all have their own merry ways of celebrating the day.
For the large northeast population in the city, it is about recreating the festivities back home. Toshizen Longkumer, a student at St. Josephs College, says: “We have a huge community here and we do most of the things we did back home. We start our Christmas celebrations right from the start of the month. One of the highlights is going for the midnight mass on December 25. The only thing that we do not do is going to houses to sing carols. It is impossible here.”
John Thomas, faculty member at Christ College and a Syrian Christian, says: “Christmas for us is about self-denial and we celebrate in a low-key fashion. It is not about drinking and dancing but about observing a religious event.”
Angeline Bhavya, a software professional with Catholic and Protestant parents, says: “Christmas is an exciting time for my family. We put up the star at our house, set up a crib depicting the nativity scene, and of course decorate the Christmas tree. We play and sing carols, all through December.”
For some Christmas is a very personal affair, much like celebrating the birthday of a friend.
“We come back home after the morning service and cut a cake and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus,” says Jesline Williams, a Roman Catholic and a first PU student of Mount Carmel College.
For Ronald Paul, an Anglo-Indian, Christmas is about spending time with family or going to church, as “through the year, they rarely have time for this.” Like most others from his community, Ronald and his family make their own cakes, cookies and wine. Visiting extended family is also another ritual.
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