By Amrita Pai

For me, Christmas has always held special significance. As a child my earliest memories revolved around my mother playing the Gunther Kallerman Choir’s renditions of Christmas Carols at home, walks down Park Street with my family, carol sessions at St Paul’s, and evenings spent watching the whole city of Calcutta come alive with the festive spirit. Though we did not have anything to do with the religious or spiritual aspect of the festival, we looked forward to it more eagerly than the Durga Puja or Diwali.

Some of my most memorable Christmas celebrations involved Sister Bell and her family. She was the Head Nurse at my father’s clinic who would unfailingly invite us each year for amazing Christmas gifts like the cute “Masoom” dolls and lovely handmade wooden toys.

The foodie in me was often awakened by the smells emanating from her kitchen and my first target would be the melt in your mouth variety of Christmas cake. After viewing the splendidly arranged miniatures of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger and checking out the Christmas tree, the adults would be served some sparkling wine  while we children would attack the delicacies. The afternoon would culminate in a delicious lunch at the restaurant Anarkali followed by a movie, the latest Bollywood fare to be precise. This would be the routine every year till Sister Bell moved to Australia in the late 1980s.

Gradually, Christmas tended to come early. In school, it would be celebrated on the last working day before the winter holidays. Mrs George, our Kindergarten teacher, would be unanimously voted to play Santa not just because of her cheerful nature and wide girth but also because no one could imagine anyone else enjoying themselves to the hilt while dressing up in hot red Santa gear and lugging sacks of heavy presents while being tickled mercilessly by a fake beard. We would offer to be her helpers as she went around climbing five storeys, delivering presents to all the children in the school, keeping something aside for the unfortunate absentees. A Christmas tree became a part of the festivities eventually and would decorate the hall through the holidays till we came back for the new session, the next year.

Having spent the last five years in Bandra, Mumbai, Christmas has taken on a different meaning altogether, that of giving rather than receiving. Though I have been working through Christmas every year, I make sure some of the festivities rub off on my daughter. Our proximity to St Anne’s Church makes it imperative that we go there for the midnight mass, the carol singing sessions and to view the scenes from the manger. Like before, lunches are usually out and a movie is also thrown in for childhood’s sake. Last but not the least, time for Christmas presents! Funding a child’s education is perhaps the best thing we have ever done and Christmas is when the tradition started for a baby girl at the Mount Mary’s Orphanage.

By Mandappa

Aah! The glorious smell of freshly baked cookies. It presented a sniff of Christmas and a whiff of nostalgia. I’m sitting here on my dining table, looking over the first batch of cookies. I’d rate success at about 80%. It’s a little burnt. But good enough for a second try.  

I have had enough of picking up cookies of fly ridden shelves in dinghy bakeries. Of cookies packed so long ago, that it doesn’t even contain the essence of Christmas. And the very packaging, a flimsy polythene, polyester or poly whatever sure takes the very joy out of Christmas cookies.            

So I decided I’d make an attempt if nothing else to revive Mummy’s tradition. It usually started around the 10^th of December. Every day from then until Christmas eve, Mum baked as the cousins pottered around the entire holidays. Almond cookies, chocolate cookies, Wheat, Oat and Bran cookies. Cookies with nuts, cookies with butter, cookies with chocolate chips and with every kind of possible topping. Cookies, cookies and more cookies. The smell of the continuous baking was the best part of my growing up years. As well as the best part of Christmas.  

My cousins would come over. My family still lived in the ancestral house. My cousins would totter in with their folks. One by one as the holiday season began differently in different parts of the country. 35 was the number of cousins. Though usually only about 30 made it. Considering the times now, that was a huge number. In my last visit, there were 5.           

None the less, back then, they were a bunch of us. A big bunch of us to be precise. We woke up, ate, played, ran, shouted, screamed, showered, punched, fought, played some more, danced, sang so on and so forth. Basically we painted town red. All the while Mum and her sisters baked. Every time we took a break from our hooliganism and stepped into the house, we were greeted with the warm whiff of baking cookies.   

Times change. One by one we grew up and got busy with our own little worlds. The number of cousins kept dropping. Every one had big exams, a big promotion, a big wedding or so called better things to do.  

I’ve missed it but I haven’t said much. I’ve been guilty of the same offences so there wasn’t much I could do.  

The past few years, I’ve shamelessly treated my kids to plastic box cookies from plastic filled supermarkets. I’ve bought them in big plastic bags from plastic-faced bakers. My kids are happy. They never knew better.   

The ancestral house is gone. So is Mum and most of her sisters.  

For a change and for what it’s worth I decided to bake cookies this year. Busy schedules not with standing, I shopped for ingredients. Brought home the recipe and started a fresh this morning. Not knowing where it would go from there.  

Until my 8 year old son came running in from the garden, hugged me and asked, “Mummy, what’s that smell?” I smiled with tears in my eyes and said, “That’s the smell of Christmas, darling.”

By Christina Fransz 

There is something about a certain time of the year that has an out of this world feel to it. A season that makes you feel so warm, a season that brings warmth to our hearts. A festival that makes you feel closer to God. It is a celebration of all the heavenly powers. It is Christmas! 

Christmas is not just a holiday to mark the birth of Jesus. The zeal, joy, happiness and the entire euphoria with which the month of December is associated, keeps the entire globe abuzz. It is rather not hard to accentuate that one single holiday (or rather a global bonhomie!!) is enough to aggrandize our lives and we feel elevated. No caste, no creed, no religion and certainly no fake beliefs, come Christmas, everything disappears. 

We generally associate the month of December with bone-chilling winds and falling flakes of snow, enough to send the shivers down our spines. When it is too cold nobody likes to go out of their homes to go down the stores and buy any stuff. However, Christmas time, no matter how cold it is, no matter if it’s snowing hard and it’s really cold, people are just ready and eager. Neither the cold weather nor the snow can stop the kids from looking at the sky with gleeful eyes, looking for their favorite Santa Claus… Ready to visit Earth with a bag full of gifts. And, of course, how can the lousy, gloomy and cold weather stop the grown ups from decorating their homes, and glutton for some fresh baked turkey. 

Christmas is also about gastronomic delights where you can satisfy your sweet tooth with all the lovely delicacies like plum cakes, puddings, cookies and what not. Apart from all these deliciously appetizing and euphoria of Christmas, it is undoubtedly a time when you can catch up with your family and loved ones. And even reach out to your far-off relatives. You can get together and have the most memorable time of the whole year in just one holiday. Also you get to know many new people, be them neighbors or people at the church. It is a festival that brings people together.  

Carol singing lights up the whole of the street with the singers visiting homes and spreading the spirit of Christmas. However, Christmas can never be complete without the midnight mass, which is held on Christmas Eve at the nearest church. The Christmas carols and the mass bring a calming and relieved effect on us. It is absolutely soothing, healing and divine. The children love it for the visit of Santa Claus with candies and gifts.

Christmas night gets over with children getting their gifts and relatives departing towards their respective homes after a wonderful lunch and dinner at the host’s home. Christmas ends for that year but its spirit lives on till the next year where another memory is created in people’s heart to live on till the next and so it goes on. This is Christmas, it keeps Jesus alive in our hearts and makes us love and appreciate our families and one another even more.

By Sarin Mathew

The mist rising over the mountain range was beautiful to look at , my eyes felt the contentment of beholding such beauty. Slight warmth spread through my body as I sipped on the hot chocolate in my hands. It was the evening before “Christmas” and I had to attend the midnight mass of Christmas Eve. The scenario would have been perfect except I didn’t really think so.

I mean, seriously, Christmas isn’t really Christmas until there’s a beautiful white blanket of snow covering everything in sight…maybe at least this day the world’s sins can be covered under it. Christmas isn’t really Christmas until you’ve got bare naked trees which are covered with dazzling lights so as to make up for the robe of leaves it must have shed. Essentially I believe that Christmas is Christmas in foreign lands where you have ‘Santa’s’ at every street corner jingling their bells, hassled shoppers walking around with bags filled with goodies and gifts for their loved ones waiting up for them back home and what can Christmas actually be without green “Christmas pine trees” decorated like a new bride on her wedding night.

Man! I hate this. No lights, no Christmas trees, no white snow…and trying-to-perfect eggnog my mom whipped up for me. Christmas in India wasn’t exactly Christmas…no matter how beautiful the mist over the mountains looked! With these thoughts in my mind and my mood begining to become anti-christmas’y’, I put on my jacket and went out for a stroll.

As I walked about aimlessly, conversing with God, actually accusing him of making a mistake by making me Indian with an Indian Christmas I saw a chapel ahead of me decorated with lights. But what hit me was the number of candles gracing the chapel which were little hopes and little wishes made by us humans who in spite of reaching the moon still need an unseen force to ensure us that “all will be fine”. I walked ahead and saw a crowd of street urchins outside a temple waiting their turns to receive warm clothes for the harsh winter ahead. The donor looked happy and content standing in a corner just observing them and me observing the joy on his face.

Ok, now I was already feeling a little pro – christmas’y’ . But still there was no snow flake falling on my nose tip, no fogged up breath. I finally decided to return home and leave for mid night mass. As I was approaching my building a group of little kids with loud shrieky voices and un-tuned musical instruments decided to try out their season’s first Christmas carols on me. They sang in shrill voices ’Silent night….’, breaking into giggles in between. Finally after the wonderful orchestra, my mom gave them cookies and cakes to fill up with. As these little ones, still shrieking maybe even more now, left my house to move on to the next house to fill up with their out of tune carols and laughter, I realized that Christmas is actually about spending time with your family, helping others and being grateful for all that’s given to us. So even without the snow and the works…Christmas isn’t ‘still’ Christmas without the essence of Christmas i.e. to share, give & love. And suddenly the mist over the mountains on Christmas eve didn’t look too bad!!!

By Vandana Rajesh

Christmas is all about ringing in the festive season, friendship, love and great times. Celebrated as the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas is associated with spreading peace, happiness and love. Nature too joins in this great celebration. It is like nature has adorned the role of a fairy Godmother all dressed in white offering you a wonderful time.

Christmas for many is the connecting link with their childhood bringing back lovely nostalgic memories of their young days when they decorated their house along with parents, assisted mother with the grand meal. It has since ages been a time for family reunions. Christmas is a wonderful time for family reunions and having all those get togethers that you have been planning for long. Work hard to make it truly special for your family.

Start right from the beginning by decorating your house. Bring in all those evergreens, put up all those beautiful cards that you received from your near and dear ones and do up the home making it truly irresistible for Santa. You could use different types of decorations for making your home look very beautiful and be the focus of all attention. Do not forget the mistletoes. Bring out all the wonderful laced home linen that you have been storing for Christmas and turn your home into a beautiful space you and your family would enjoy.

It is a great time that kids look forward to. For the children Christmas is all about gifts and goodies and spending memorable moments with family. The children wait all year long for hanging up their stockings and hoping and praying that Santa decides to bring them lovely gifts.

Food is an important part of Christmas. It is time to make all those delicious dishes that you have been experimenting with for so long. A great time for entertaining, call over your friends and family and enjoy the Christmas spirit.  

The Christmas tree is an important decoration that is the pride of every home. Decorate your Christmas tree creatively. You could make use of your old decorations as well as try some new creative ideas. You could even hang up chocolates and other goodies wrapped in gold or silver foil making it attractive for the children. Make sure that you add that special personal touch while wrapping the gifts placed under the Christmas tree. 

Christmas would be just another festival but for the importance that you give it. Your efforts to make it a wonderful time for your loved ones is what the Christmas spirit is all about. It is time for sharing and caring. A time for making others feel special. It is a time for expressing your love and affection. The Christmas spirit is all about understanding others, their difficulties and helping them in the best possible manner. The holiday season offers you the time and ambience for making the most and enjoying with family and friends. Come together and spread happiness this Christmas making it an occasion that you and your loved ones would cherish all their life

Christmas lights; we have all seen them and most of us have used them before. When it comes to Christmas lights, we often associate those lights with Christmas trees.  While Christmas lights are most commonly used to decorate Christmas trees, did you know that they can also be used for much more?  If you are planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year, you are advised to examine what else Christmas lights can be used for. After a close examination, you will likely see that they can be used for a lot more than you may have originally thought.

As previously mentioned, when it comes to Christmas lights, we often associate Christmas lights with Christmas trees. This is because a large number of individuals decorate their Christmas trees with Christmas lights.  What is nice about using Christmas lights on a Christmas tree is that the lights come in a number of different sizes and styles.  It is possible to purchase Christmas lights with small light bulbs, as well as large ones.  Traditional Christmas lights come white in color or with a combination of all different colors.  In recent years, the popularity of different colored lights has skyrocketed.  You can now purchase single colored Christmas lights or lights with a specific color combination. These types of lights are ideal for those who are looking to theme their Christmas tree.

Although many individuals choose to use Christmas lights for their Christmas tree, as stated above, there are other uses for them as well.  One of those uses is for decorating the outside of your home.  Online and in many retail stores across America, you can easily find Christmas lights that are designed for outside use, particular around a home. These type of lights are often referred to as icicle Christmas lights.  Icicle Christmas lights allow the lights to hang off the side of a house.  While it is possible to find multicolored outdoor Christmas lights, you will find that they are most commonly sold in the traditional white color.

In addition to decorating the outside of the outside of your home with Christmas lights, you can also decorate the trees outside of your home.  A number of homeowners, each year, decorate the trees outside their home, often exactly like their indoor Christmas tress.  Many times, these trees are relatively small in size; therefore, the same types of Christmas lights that can be used on a regular tree can also, sometimes, be used on an outdoor tree.  Decorating the small trees in your yard is a great way to bring a touch of Christmas to your neighborhood.

You can also use Christmas lights to decorate any one of the rooms that can be found inside your home.  There are many individuals who hang Christmas lights along the top of their walls. This is a great way to bring extra Christmas spirit into the room that your Christmas tree is in, as well as other rooms. In fact, you can even use Christmas lights to decorate one of your home’s bedrooms.  This idea is often loved by teenagers and other children; many enjoy the bright lights and colors. Decorating your home’s bedrooms is a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into a room that you may have otherwise not decorated.

As nice as it is to decorate your home for Christmas, you may also want to decorate your office or your workspace. Unfortunately, not everyone celebrates Christmas.  This may pose a problem, when it comes to decorating your office workspace.  However, you can still, in many cases, use Christmas lights to decorate your office.  In most cases, you will find that it is the decorations that scream Christmas that cause the problems, not the lights themselves. Therefore, if you supervisors approve, you could easily hang Christmas lights around your office walls or along the sides of your work desk.

Isn’t it amazing all of the different ways that you can use Christmas lights to decorate your home or even your office? What is even more amazing is the above mentioned examples are just a few of the many ways that you can use Christmas lights to bring the holiday spirit into your home or office.

Christmas Candles set the House Aglow during the Season

Christmas decorating has become a favorite pastime once the Thanksgiving turkey has been carved, and many folks are constantly on the lookout for new and unusual ways to adorn their homes during the season. One of the least expensive ways to make a festive statement is through the use of Christmas candles that are strategically placed throughout the house. Christmas candles can add a warm and inviting glow to any room, and can dress up your holiday décor before they are even lit. Today you can find Christmas candles in a wide array of colors, sizes and styles to meet the needs of even the most discriminating holiday decorator.

All Around the House

As long as it is safe to do so, you can place your Christmas candles in some of the most unexpected nooks and crannies of your home. The powder room is a popular place for Christmas candles to make an appearance, and if you select from the scented varieties, your bathroom is guaranteed to smell festive as well. Another fun way to use your Christmas candles is to make an arrangement of them inside of your fireplace on evenings when it is too warm to build an actual fire. This is a safe place to display a beautiful Christmas candle display, and you can add a warm glow to an otherwise dark hearth.

Of course, the dining room table is the perfect setting for Christmas candles, but keep in mind that it is poor manners to set candles on a table without lighting them when your guests sit down to eat. You can opt for a pair of classic tapers that will add elegance to your Christmas table, especially if you go for colors like white, silver or gold. You can also place a few pillars of assorted sizes on a decorative plate for a centerpiece to your table. Add some greens, Christmas ornaments or even candy around the edges of the plate to add to the festive look. Another way to display Christmas candles on your dining room table is to line up a number of tea lights down the center of the table for an understated glow.

Outdoors

You can also use Christmas candles outdoors to invite guests into your home. Try creating luminaries, by cutting shapes into paper bags, filling with sand and placing a tea light in the center. A porch that is lined by these candles will be a warm and welcoming one indeed. If you are concerned about safety when it comes to using your candles in various locations, you can also opt for the safer electrical version. These lights can give the same look as a Christmas candle but without the concern over the fire hazard that might result.

By Vivek Anand

Christmas! Aha the word itself is so enchanting and mesmerizing that it feels as adrenaline rushing & pumping throughout my body. Its not just a day, it’s a festival, a desire, a journey, an experience of joy and exhilaration, celebration and of course how can I forget giving and receiving gifts & above all love from my near and dear ones.

As a kid whenever I thought of Christmas my eyes started glittering with the dream of celebrations. Lights, candles, decorations, feast, I couldn’t have asked for more. A long list of my desires penned down onto a roll of paper and kept beneath my pillow, only to get up in the morning and find most of them fulfilled. Yes that’s Santa Claus for me, my friend, who turned my dreams and desires into reality.

Long days of shopping at the mall with my mom and my little sister, collecting all kinds of decorative and gifts for loved ones and in the evening playing good music with parents and their friends having a feast while sipping their favorite wine. It was awesome, an out of the world experience. I had never in my life felt so elated but at Christmas.

The significance of Christmas is the fact that lord Jesus was born on this day, but it means much more to people as not only they celebrate the lord’s birth but an episode of happiness, prosperity and vitality. I remember going to church on Christmas Eve, saying my silent prayers, then lighting candles at the grotto and finally singing Christmas carols with the choir. It seems as if the whole environment, the entire world has come together to celebrate this festival with light and joy.

In most part of the world the climatic conditions are colder this month of the season and people enjoy dancing around and binging on their favorite food. The best Christmas celebration I remember is of my school days. There was complete chaos and mayhem before the day, as we had to prepare for a lot of activities and decorations at the school. I remember, fighting and arguing with my friends & fellow students about who would become Santa Claus for that year and I indeed got a chance to become one after being much persistent.

I was dressed up in huge red color Santa pants and a jacket, stuffed with cotton to inflate my belly, thick white moustache and beard with a heavy bag full of chocolates. Friends closer to me insisted I give them extra chocolates but I advised that Santa has been impartial all his life and will continue to be that way. We called a singer called bobby cash (I still remember his name) who played jingles and some scintillating numbers with his guitar (and how can I forger his cowboy hat and dingo shoes).

For me “Nostalgia”, is the word synonymous with Christmas as whenever I think of December 25, the big day, I go back to my childhood days. The days of “Christmas”