---------------------------------------------------------- ***** CHRISTMAS PARTIES 2002 *****
Dec 21 - GOA-LA, Los Angeles, +1 (714) 821-6168 Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a free party announcement Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/ ---------------------------------------------------------- Christmas chill and cheer return to Kerala By Sanu George, Indo-Asian News Service Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23 (IANS) The Christmas chill has returned this year to otherwise hot and humid Kerala after a long gap, making festive spirits soar. Also bringing cheer to Christians is a sudden increase in the price of rubber, a cash crop that has been the mainstay of the community for ages. "May be god is giving this to us as an X-mas gift," 70-year-old Phillip Mathew, a devout Christian resident of Kochi, told IANS. "After a long time we are experiencing the Christmas chill. Temperatures here at midnight and early morning have come down to as low as 16 degrees Celsius. "Add to this the sudden spurt in rubber prices." At this time last year, the prices were hovering around Rs.28 per kg, but this time they have crossed Rs.40 per kg. There has also been increased participation among Christians in carol services and observation of the 25-day lent and more involvement in the X-mas activities of the church. "We had planned to go to a hill station during X-mas, but because of the pleasant weather my parents decided to stay put," said Preetha Punnen, an engineering student in Kottayam. "Also that way we would be able to take part in the early morning mass on December 25." Unlike in the past few years, X-mas stars have been hung up in most houses, even those belonging to non-Christians. A wholesale trader of Christmas gift items here is overjoyed. "This time we were surprised to find a 60 percent increase in sales over last year. We have even run out of several items. Cakes and pastries at all leading bakeries are selling fast. "The sales are much better than last year and this despite several new bakeries coming up in the city here," said a bakery owner. Schools have closed down for the Christmas break and Monday is the last working day before X-mas. Like every year, the morning breakfast in each Christian household is the most important meal after the 25-day lent. During lent, non-vegetarian food is avoided and in certain cases people even avoid milk and egg. On the early morning of December 25, soon after the morning Christmas mass, the priest gives a piece of cake and in some churches a small glass of wine. The most popular Christmas dish in every household is appam, made out of rice dough mixed with toddy. Along with that comes chicken curry prepared with coconut milk, more popularly called stew. Among the other popular dishes are egg roast and steamed banana. Some households even usher in Christmas with crackers. Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony, however, stays away from Christmas festivities though his wife and children like every year will attend the morning mass. --Indo-Asian News Service ======================================================================== Ongoing: Exhibition of paintings, Art Chamber, Calangute www.goa-art.com Dec 19-22: Gauri Divan's studio pottery, Rust, Aguada Rd Ph 2479340 Dec 23-Jan 7: Dayanita Singh's photo exhibition, Art House Tel 2276123 Jan 18-19: International kite carnival at Morgim beach, Pernem ========================================================================
