Lifestyle

Christmas in India: How different is it?

Christmas in India: The analogies and differences you need to know

India is a rich tapestry of cultures and traditions. With so much diversity, the country celebrates every festival with equal gusto. Although Christians make up less than 5% of the population, Christmas festivities are practiced all over the country. With varying customs across every state, the basic underpinnings of the celebrations are similar to the practices in the rest of the world.

Decorations

Christmas decorations
Star lanterns

The festivities begin early in the month. In Christian families, this is a time of cleansing the home, getting rid of the old in preparation for the new. Many families decorate their homes with Christmas trees and small Nativity Scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. Churches are brightly decorated with lights, lanterns and Nativity scenes or cribs. Many malls and hotels decorate Christmas trees with presents underneath, and shopping districts put up Christmas lights along their streets. Many people, even non-Christians, decorate their homes with colourful fairylights and a star-shaped lantern, which symbolises the star which guided the Holy Men to Bethlehem.

The celebrations begin on 24th night, when many Catholic families get dressed up and go to church for Midnight Mass. This is followed by the exchange of gifts, either after returning from church, or during lunch on Christmas Day. There are also local Christian organisations such as the Catholic Club in Bangalore which organise social events and Christmas parties for the occasion.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, people like to get dressed up in new clothes. While some people wear Indian clothes, the colours are usually in red, green and white, typical for Christmas, with plush gold to add to the Christmas spirit.

 

Food

Christmas feast
Roast chicken is an essential part of the Christmas feast in India.

Food is a central theme of family life in India, similar to many cultures of the world. With so many dishes inspired by the British and Portuguese influences in India, every region has its own version of a traditional Christmas lunch. For example, in Goa which has the largest Christian population, the main dish is either roast turkey or chicken. The state also retains a lot of the Portuguese architecture and influence. In Kerala, the traditional meal to start Christmas Day is beef stew. Biryani is a popular dish in many Christian households across the country, and in coastal places like Mumbai and Kerala, seafood is also popular. Many luxury hotels have special Christmas feasts.

The most common food which unites all the different customs is the rich plum cake made with raisins, similar to the Italian Panettone. This traditionally British dessert is often served with homemade wine at family gatherings. The sweetness of the cake and the delicately spiced wine complement each other perfectly and complete the Christmas celebration.

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