From: Eric Pinto <[email protected]> Subject: [Goanet] Bombay Goan Christmas, and more.
--------------- GL responds This time of the year, I think Bombay is the best place to be; especially if one grew up there. I recollect in 1970' the weeks before, of and after Christmas, it was one continuous party - not very expensive and we could not afford those expensive gigs. So we had weekend parties on our or nearby building terraces. The rest of the week was planing the party and the company, in-between helping mother make the Christmas sweets. Ok we did not have the real or fake Christmas tree and Santa Clause never brought us gifts because "we were not good:. But we were surrounded with family members and the apartment building full of noisy, festive neighbors friends and playmates all talking and excited about getting ready for the big day. When I left for England in September 1973, I was all excited because now I would have easy access to chocolates, puddings, beer, and all the drinks that I used to only see in advertisements. England really celebrated Christmas with various hospital departments having their own hospital-provided Christmas parties. One attended all of them drinking all the wine, beer, champagne, cider etc and eating all the food. However I never anticipated that while Christmas in England and America was just like the Christmas cards with all snow and decorations, it also meant one got ones behind frozen. And there was none of the warmth of the midnight outdoor mass and warm hugs of relatives, friends and neighbors. So let me be the first to wish all on Goanet a very Happy and warm Christmas season. Regards, GL
