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As the pip in the air and the mild
chill remind us that Christmas is round the corner, I
reminisce the numerous Xmas seasons gone by - some
humbly and some grandly. I cherish the high spirits and
delirious joy Christmas seasons provided me with when I
was a young boy.
In Azhagappappapuram, as in other
places, November would herald the onset of Christmas
Season. The Christmas stars would come up and the air
would be one of hope and expectation. During weekends,
we youngsters would traverse the woods and nearby
hillocks and mountains in search of special reeds with
the scent of eucalyptus to be used to make small bundles
to light and produce illumination on Christmas Eve. It
would not be easy to cut and pluck reeds from the
mountain slopes with a gusty wind blowing from the
north. But the enthusiasm and spirit of Christmas would
keep us going on and bring bundles and bundles of reeds.
By mid-December each home at Azhagai would have a good
supply of reed packs for lighting. The reed flowers and
stalks would be used to make crib and Xmas decorations.
We would decorate our homes with Christmas trees,
wreathes with bright decorative baubles, festoons, bells
and other small trinkets.
Reed packs would be lighted to
provide illumination to the then literally dark village
and to make bonfires for us to stand around to burst
firecrackers and launch fireworks. So much heat and
light would enliven our spirits and provide warmth in
the wintry and chilly December night. Burning of reed
packs could perhaps be a Christmas observance of ancient
rituals such as the custom of burning Yule logs, which
symbolized the victory of light over the darkness.
Christmas eve would give us utmost happiness and joy.
Though Christmas basically is a commemoration of the
birth of Jesus Christ, we youngsters seemed to be
looking forward to the real birth of Christ. Some big
guy would play Santa Clause distributing sweets and
gifts to children.
On Christmas Eve every household
would produce a large supply of special sweets ready to
serve to an on-going procession of visitors.
Special mid-night mass and carol
singing, of course, would be the highlight of Xmas.
People especially would look forward to this Mass, as
this is not only a sacred prayer ceremony but an
important social event as well. Men and women, clad in
new clothes, would throng the main church to see Mass
which would go on for over a couple of hours and people
hail the savior who gave up his life so that they may
live. The celebrations would begin with the chiming of
church bells on the midnight of December 24-25,
symbolizing the birth of Christ. The Christmas message
and greetings of the parish priest delivered from the
podium would be heard with rapt attention. devotees
would pay obeisance at the nativity tableau that depicts
the birth of Christ.
After the mass, people would head off
home on the hallowed night, and youngsters frisk on
their way back, burning sparklers and bursting loads of
crackers.
Christmas was considered not just
about prayers and midnight masses, it was also a time
for fun and frolic with socializing, partying, music and
other cultural extravaganza.
Exchanging greetings, gifts, family
feasts, and social activities like charity fund-raising
would feature the Christmas Day. Even in those days
Christmas Festival had assumed secular overtones and
was joyfully celebrated by people of all religions and
communities. Christmas also used to be the time for
family reunions. People staying in different cities for
job or higher studies would rush back to their homes to
celebrate Christmas with their near and dear ones.
One of the facets of Xmas in Azhagappapuram in yesteryears had been the now defunct
coconut war, where the strength of different
varieties of husked coconuts would be tested in front of
a vast multitude by skillfully throwing one coconut to
slam into the other. The winner would almost always be a
variety called Emedan coconut. Youngsters would
conduct traditional sports competitions and cultural
programs on the Christmas Day. Even veterans would
actively participate in events like long jump, shot-put
and marathon.
The evening of the Christmas Day
would be marked by a joyous get-together of the
villagers near the church. This area would be gaily
decorated with lights, buntings, stars, Santa Claus
cut-outs and Christmas trees from under which children
would eagerly seek out the gift laid out for them.
On this festive occasion, we should
be conscious of the significance of Christmas: Jesus
Christ is the very personification of Divinity. There
was a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred
and hypocrisy prevailed upon the world. In the midst of
these conditions, Christ was born and He worked a
transformation in the lives of people. He gave a new and
spiritual turn to the lives of man. There came a change
upon the land. People started upon a new way of life.
Thus a new era dawned for the world.
MERRY CHRISTMAS |
