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Christmas in Kerala |
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Christmas in Kerala |
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Christmas in Kerala
The entire people of Kerala without the difference of caste and creed celebrate Christmas. The fervor and gaiety visible through out Kerala is standing testimony to that. Difference in religious belief does not stand in their way in welcoming the birth of Christ. Business men have a hay day as sales of every thing reaches in it feverish pitch. The word Christmas had been derived from the old English “Christes Maesse” meaning the mass of Christ. This was primarily a heathen (not pertaining to Christianity) festival, observed by the rural folks of Europe from time immemorial. Later with the advent of Christianity it some how got related to the birth of Jesus Christ. The considerable percentage of Christians in Kerala, made Christmas a universal celebration for this state of Kerala. People of Kerala make advance arrangements to welcome this day which fall invariably on December 25th. About ten days before Keralites make hexagonal star shaped frame from bamboo log pieces and cover it with translucent color paper. A lighted lamp is placed in it at night. This star is hung high on the branch of a tree in front of the house. The colorful stars dangling in front of every house announce the arrival of a good event. Now a days factory made stars have stolen the show, robbing the old delight of improvising one. Making of a Christmas star was the thrill to the children of that time now shopping one has become the trend. Sending of greeting cards prior to Christmas is so popular in Kerala that usually the post offices get clogged out during this season. All people barring communities send greeting card to those who are dear and near. Recently it has become an expensive affair as the cards of the latest models have become very costly. This trend does much damage to the simple ways of celebrating a holy event, which was prevalent until recently. During Christmas time children of the neighborhood form local carol troops and start learning to sing songs and dancing. They visit neighborhood homes and get their permission for the performance in their courtyards. The largest among them make up for the Santa Claus. Small girls in beautiful dresses dance as boys sing and play musical instruments. Christmas Eve is really for these children as they enjoy it the most. The party performs the show from house to house. The gifts received from the houses are shared among the children. That is used as the pocket money for them to celebrate. Each and every Christian home set the crib (pul koodu- nest made
of dry grass) in which the images of infant Jesus along with cute
dolls representing angels’ shepherds’ lambs’ etc.
and other beautiful items are placed. The crib is decorated as beautifully
as they can. Here also children have the main roles as mama and papa
are mere facilitators or onlookers. The Christmas tree is rather a
recently introduced one. The children generally go out in groups climb
on trees (generally casuarinas) and cut the branches bring it home.
This branch known as the Christmas tree is decorated with color papers
and balloons. The Christmas cards received are also used for this
decoration. For the great misfortune here also ready made Christmas
trees have arrived! Just shop and don’t take pain to make one.
The pleasure of jointly making one, just gone with the wind! Previously cakes and wines were made at home prior to Christmas. Ladies of Christian homes were well known for their culinary skills. The wines they made excelled the caviars the bakery made cakes are mere trash when compared to the creations of our home made ones. Fish molly, karimeen pappas (a local fish delicacy) with appams (round rice bread with soft middle and laced edge) was a combination par excellent. The five course dinner at noon is a real treat. Wine with cake, bread with fish molly, appam with beef curry, rice with all sorts of side dishes and to cap it all final serve of pudding are the standard diet. Those without diabetes and blood pressure are twice blessed! During Christmas time relatives living apart assemble in their ancestral house. These happy reunions set a perfect stage of women to share their concerns and intimate problems. Men folk generally assemble in secured corners to enjoy the bottle that cheers. Their concerns are of far more serious ones, like insurgency in Necara gua or poor Fidel Castro’s health! However for children they get the glimpse of their ancestral home, their close and distant relatives, tasty food, good colorful dresses, last and the most important freedom from the studies and home work. The experiences associated with Christmas celebrations in their child hood are for them some thing more cherished than a treasure. The Christmas is round the corner, proceed for your ancestral home
take women and children along, and experience the pleasures of togetherness.
Let the women to meet and interact with nears and dears. And to children,
gift them unforgettable memories to cherish all through their life.
Happy Christmas! Author: Sasi Kumar Source: Naturemagics.com - website on
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