Goanet meets in Goa: December 27, 12 noon and January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). See you there! ------------------------------
Christmas (not "Krist- mass" ) is the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ. The celebration of Christmas is a religous event. What follows is jubilation and merry making to celebrate THE ADVENT OF CHRIST ON EARTH It is obvious therefore that Christmas has signficance only for those who believe in Jesus Christ and those that rejoice in the coming of Christ on Earth. Goans have traditionally celebrated Christmas, recreating scenes of the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago. Making "star of Bethlehem", a crib "the Child in the Manger", serenading around hills villages and beyond, christmas carols, all preceding the Midnight Mass. The decoration of houses with Christmas Tree and Santa Claus, distribution of sweets, greeting one another are just formal ways of celebrating Christmas and forms the merriment part of it. Nevertheless the entire theme centred around the BIRTH OF JESUS & REJOICING THE ADVENT OF CHRIST ON EARTH It is unfortunate however that Christmas has been misunderstood by many. Goa has suddenly over the years witnessed hordes of tourist descending in Goa. What for -----to enjoy "Krist mass" and what does that mean - "Just to dance karo" and "perhaps with a Goan Cristao Ladki (girl)" Just watch these tourists crowding the Church Square interrupting the solemn celebrations . They then invade the X'Mass Ball/Dances held at every street corner, hotels, the beach etc organised by the hotel lobby and the unscrupulous Goencars who try to satiate the desires of these hordes of tourists and reap a midnight bonanza. It is disgusting to move around the streets hordes of tourist some all male groups meandering on to the streets, passing skewed comments on our beautifully dressed belles. I'snt this a shame that the Catholic Goans have brought unto themselves. One view is that it is the liberal easy going Goan Catholic girl or woman (known as aunties) who are to be blamed. Ask a tourist and pat comes the reply " the Goan Catholic girls / woman are "jolly" they smile at anyone and everyone and befriend anyone at short notice" . This has spoilt the image of Catholic Goans and the spirit of Christmas, down the years. Can we not change all this why cant we restrict these festivities to only those that rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ and limit the celebrations without straying beyond the the main theme. This is an ocassion for family reunion not for the hordes of tourists to mingle amidst us, to destroy the moral fabric of Christmas. It is even disgusting to see how hordes of commercial vendors (now that the Konkan Railway has turned Goa into a corridor from Mumbai to Kerala )have suddenly descended on every street and corner. The entire celebration is a money spinning adventure for just one night or a week long celebration. The crib set cost from Rs.120/- to Rs.500/- the santa clause caps around Rs. 40/- the star from Rs.40 to Rs.180/ and decorations Rs.20/- and above, the blinking decorative lights (which last only for a day or two) costs around Rs.200/- and the Christmas tree from Rs 300/- to Rs.3000/- No more the stars made of bamboo cane and decorative paper made by the entire community of the hand made decorative crib. Now every one goes for ready mades, then the sweets the enthusiasm one gets to burn the midnight oil to make these sweets seems to be lost. Ready to eat sweets of all kind shapes and sizes are available from Rs.20/- to Rs.300/- so no one makes them at home. Oh what a shame is this Christmas. What is the Catholic Church doing ? They send out appeals during Carnaval to caution their flock from going astray why not for Christmas? Lets put an end to it lets have simple serenades,carol singing then programmes for the families within the church premises or halls and christmas social functions. Lets make sweets at home, lets make a crib a star a christmas tree with our own hands or collectively community wise ward wise and restrict our celebrations with the theme - rejoicement in the coming of Jesus Christ on earth. New Year Celebrations are different and unlike the religious sanctity that Christmas deserve. This year our Hindu brethren celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi and Dipawali with exemplary religious fervour. There was little or no fireworks the festivities stuck to the beyond 10 p.m. ban and the idols of Ganesh were of clay not of Plaster or Paris which would not easily dissolve once immersed. Thanks to a High Court directive. This was a welcome trend its now the turn of Catholics to show the way. godfrey j. i. gonsalves borda margao goa ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Mobile: Download the latest polyphonic ringtones. Go to http://in.mobile.yahoo.com ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
