CHRISTMAS JOYS Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, who is the saviour of the humanity. Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year as also for everyone through out the world. The magical events of Christmas are believed to hold every heart of ours with joy and freshness. These magical events have been re-created in the many traditions followed during Christmas. The Christmas tree, the star, and Santa Claus are some traditions that all combine to form the spirit of Christmas. Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, but mostly, Christmas is for love.
However, no matter which part of the world you are in, the tradition of Christmas blossoms with fun and celebration and carries along with it faith, hope and love. It is a combination, which gives a touch of liveliness and harmony to the season of celebrations. The Christmas spirit is all about caring and sharing with your loved ones. Moreover, what best way to express these feelings than gifts? Christmas, in many ways is the season to give gifts to the loved ones. For us, Christmas in a unique experience, as we lay out a variety of Christmas sweets and culinary delights. In certain places specially in the villages, ladies in the neighborhood get together as they draw up a schedule so that they can reach out and help one another in preparing sweets. This is all done in the true spirit of love, goodwill and friendship. Christmas is surely incomplete without Santa. His roaring laughter and gifts that he brings along are an integral part of Christmas, more so for children. They keep peeping out through the windows waiting for Santa's arrival. Santa is believed to have come riding through the snow on the carriage pulled by reindeers, led by his favorite Rudolph-- the red-nosed reindeer. Children just loved the Santa and eagerly wait for his arrival. Children believe that Santa Claus gets gifts for them. As a result many of them leave stockings so that Santa can put their gifts in it, some little ones hang sack of pillows instead of stockings. Others even decorate their Christmas list and put it on the windowsill along with a little bit of sugar so that Father Christmas won't miss them!!!! I clearly remember when I tried to tell my son about Santa Clause, he looked amazed and asked me how can the Santa visits all the homes in the world on Christmas eve, especially when he comes down the chimney, which is not the quickest way to enter a home and he also wanted to know what happens to the homes which have no chimney, infact, he was thinking of our home. I was so amazed at the logical question from my child that I just walked away, muttering under my breath!!!!!! Midnight mass and day services are held in the Churches during the eve and the day of Christmas. The message and sermons of love and redemption are given out. Large numbers of people gather to pray and thank god for His sacrifices that have saved humanity. May the birth of Baby Jesus bring in lots of peace and love to our selves and to the entire world. MS. ARLETTE AZAVEDO. MAPUCA.
