The wind is cooler at night, as the Yuletide month reigns supreme. December somehow wields her magical charm by empowering the spirit of family and honoring the birth of the Christ child. It is a time loaded with blissful recollections of past celebrations. Christmas reminds me of family, the laughter and loved we shared. Our home during Christmas became the center of my joy. Michael J. Fox once said “Family is everything”. I agree fully. Family is where life begins, and love never ends.Every family is one of nature’s unique masterpieces.
Today changing trends continue to influence our Christmas reunions. With instant connectivity via social media the fellowship at Christmas is transnational. Some seniors who enjoy their king coconut wine and roast pork argue that there is a void in human interaction’ within the spectrum of Christmas celebrations. Thankfully in Sri Lanka we still sustain these bonds.
Thirty years ago we indulged in a family centered Christmas, before being digitally dominated and wishing relatives on WhatsApp. By December 15, the festive momentum steadily increased. It was a family affair and even the neighborhood dogs would somehow sense that it was December. One of the family traditions at my home was the making of the Christmas cake: often referred in that era as rich cake, a reflection of its choice ingredients. Today there are so many cakes during December.
Midnight Baker
We engaged in this culinary routine of neatly chopping the various fruits and cashew nuts that entered this mixture. When this long mixing ritual was complete the baking process began.The large trays would not fit the oven at home so they had to be taken to the bakery nearby. We carried the trays with mother accompanied by some other friends. The bakery was intense with activity. The old baker was definitely inspired by the presence of beautiful burgher girls dressed in their dazzling cotton dresses- giggling in the moonlight. We would have to return around midnight to collect same. The return journey had its own jovial moments as Terrence had a habit of lighting fire crackers along the way and waking stray dogs from their slumber! Crackers were also thrown into the garden of some moody senior citizens, who woke up with anger and unleashed all kinds of verbal threats. Bats hovered about in the moonlight. Back at home the cake trays were kept above a basin of water to avoid inquisitive ants.
Funny Uncles
My father was a caring family man who had his December routines. One of his “Christmas duties” was applying varnish on our wooden furniture to augment their glossy look.He would patiently commit himself to this task. During this time dad’s elder brother Uncle Stephen would join us for a chat. He was a bachelor, and weird in some ways. Once an uninvited rat had decided to visit us at night. Uncle Stephen boldly rising to face the “threat” chased the rat, with a broomstick. He slipped on the polished floor and fell, and resembled a slain Roman soldier. The rat had the last laugh I guess. Uncle Stephen got up and swore to take revenge!!!
A teacher by profession Uncle Alloy was often disturbed by dreams. He always confided in my dad. Alloy had dreamt one night that a dangerous black panther was chasing him (during Christmas) and woke up screaming- shattering the serenity of a silent night. The dear gentleman was deeply embarrassed, and needed much assurance that panthers were never part of the Christmas manger! This was the kind of interaction we enjoyed back then. Another remarkable gent was Uncle Giles, a devout Catholic who attended mass with sacred devotion. He was always attired in full white. He was an avid reader of the Daily News. He was the first faithful soul to walk into the magnificent Cathedral every Christmas morning. These kind men have since been promoted to the golden shore.
A happy kitchen
Cooking as a family was part of Christmas. Twenty five years ago the imported cheese and corned beef tins were brought from Canada by my Uncle Justin. This jolly soul with his extended stomach added much zest to our Christmas reunions. He dedicated 2 hours making his beef smore- the signature dish of the burgher community and black pork curry. He truly enjoyed frying the lingus (sausages enhanced with cubes of diced fat). Today I talk about these grand recipes with Leroy Mack- a faithful friend from church.
My dad’s final yuletide duty was to buy the fresh pine Cyprus tree. We never had plastic trees- they have no fragrance. One year there was an issue with the Christmas tree lights, and Uncle Leslie volunteered to fix it. He was a jolly man ready to help anytime. He would say “Wait son- I will shirt put and come”. In the process of fixing the lights he was bestowed with a pulsating rush of electricity, which left him stunned for about 5 seconds. He was duly revived with a glass of ginger beer. He simply said “Like express train-current hit no”.
A white cat
Some years Dad and I used to paint the house. We were assisted by a paid worker, who was a master of mixing paint. We had a neighbour aunty to our left. She had a black cat, who ruled that residence like an emperor. The cat got great affection, which it demanded. It was fed boneless fish. So one year we finished painting. The paint tins were rinsed. The hired worker gave me an “empty tin”. Feeling both tired and happy, I playfully threw the tin from the second floor roof top. I couldn’t catch it. Apparently the tin- still had some white paint, and fell into the next door garden. Correction dear readers. The tin precisely fell on that proud black cat. Within seconds the dignified cat was transformed into an “off white’ creature with visible shades of black. We roared with laughter. The “paranormal” cat later successfully managed to frighten a few old ladies down the lane- at night.After 2 days I extended a humble “Christian” apology to the old lady and a large tin of sardine for that bewildered cat. With time the cat recovered to full black, thankfully.
December 25 was a day of thanksgiving, reflecting on the Lords blessings in the year gone by.The day began at around 5 am with Adrian letting out a volley of thunderous fire crackers, much to the dismay of retired neighbour Uncle Nadesan- who claimed his rights were violated. Lunch was a fun affair with aunts, uncles and cousins. The succulent pork tasted even better the next night.
The festive ‘cheer’ of December was sustained until January 3. Mother managed to keep a few pieces of Christmas cake (from my intrusive hands) for relatives who visited Colombo from the outstations. The king coconut wine of Aunty Stephanie, was partly like a mysterious concoction from an ancient apothecary. As I write this narrative, I notice a large black bull, roaming around our lane. This amiable bull has created much conversation by its large and funny presence, stealing fruits like a naughty Christmas elf, from the fruit shop at the top of our road. A reminder in a way about the manger and its humility.
Christmas is not about eating and receiving gifts, there is much more to this Christian celebration. Today it is commercially branded with profit oriented marketing promotions as X-Mas, which is incorrect.As my prudent parish priest Rev. Charles Jansz often says “Christ is the center of Christmas”. He has been a good pastor and positive influence on my life, for four decades. Christmas is celebrated in December, but the real gift of divine salvation endures throughout the year.I can endorse that the Christ within Christmas remains a close friend, once you befriend him. Wishing all our readers a blessed month of Christmas. Please take time to share the love of Jesus with those around you.
Dishan Joseph