Christmas Traditions in India

Even though Christians form a minority community in India, this does not dampen the Christmas and New Year celebrations across the length and breadth of the country. Christmas is celebrated by believers and non-believers alike, complete with scenes of Nativity, Christmas puddings and even Christmas trees (even though fir trees grow only in the northern hilly tracts of the country).

Legend has it that Christmas was originally celebrated by Romans as a Pagan festival, dedicated to the Sun God, and symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. It was much later that December 25th came to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ (in fact only around 345 AD). One may safely say that despite the fact that Christmas is widely regarded as a Christian festival; the basic spirit it imbibes is that of family traditions, celebrations, greetings and gifts. After three hundred years of colonization, Christianity and English are an inseparable part of the Indian culture. Besides, Indians are a people who just need a reason to celebrate and Christmas seems to be as good a reason as any other. So a large number of Indians decorate their homes with the glowing star and little Christmas trees…even if the climate disagrees with the white Christmas concept. Trees are celebrated with tinsel stars, cotton snow flakes, lights, candy and cakes. Carols singing and sending cards are a must for every educated Indian, in fact, cards are not sent for Indian festivals as much as for Christmas and New Year (a Roman concept).

Parties and dancing is an integral part of the festivities, and all Indians, at least all urban Indians participate in them wholeheartedly. Classy hotels, smaller clubs and restaurants, groups of friends, schools, colleges and almost all social organizations have parties, eat, drink, dance and celebrate. There is no dearth of good spirit even if it is not just a good Christian spirit!!! Gifts are exchanged, according to the depth of the pockets and Santa Claus brings gifts to a lot of good Indian children, just as he does around the Christian world!!

On a more serious note, the concentration of Christian faith is more in the north Eastern Hills and along the western, Southern coastline of the country. Each of these areas add their cultural flavor to their faith and the result is one cosmopolitan celebration of the birth of the Savoir and of family values. The Goans, on the west coast, from the land of palm fringed beaches and coconut feni, the Khasis, Mizos and Naga tribes of the North East, the orthodox Catholics, Syrians and Protestants of Kerala, all add the flavor of their native culture, be it in the music and dance, food or spirits. The service is usually in the local language and festivities almost always include local games and activities.

Each area has a distinctly different way of celebrating Christmas. In far North Eastern Mizoram, Christmas is a community event, a time for community feasting, called Lengkhawn Zai, (with roots in pre Christian era). Their Christmas carols are low, soft songs, more signifying spiritual joy than festivity. Goa is one favorite destination for Christmas celebrations, in fact a very large number of people from the country as well as abroad make a beeline to this little coastal state to celebrate their Christmas holidays in style.

Generally the Christians who live in the plains decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time, some even use mango leaves to decorate their homes, like during Hindu festivals. During the Christmas service, most churches are decorated with pointsepias and candles. In fact, one of the first things that one notices about an Indian Christmas is the presence of point sepia leaves instead of holly (holly does not grow in 80% of the country).

In South India, little clay lamps are lit in homes. Their wicks are twisted so the flame lasts longer, and these tiny lamps decorate the walls and houses of the clean, green countryside as well as urban centers.
Kerala does it with more religious fervor, the most favorite tourist destination for foreigners to the country, this coastal state, popularly known as God’s own country, is believed to be the cradle of Christian civilization in the country, ever since a number of centuries ago, when St Thomas made it his land of missionary zeal. There are a number of old, wealthy, Christian communities there, and Christmas in Kerala is serious business, more faith than mere celebrations.

Even though the Christmas lunch menu is roast duck, sometimes pork and mince pies, there is a decided presence of stew and appams (pancakes made of a batter of rice flour and coconut milk, to be enjoyed with mutton stew, a very typical South Indian delicacy) too, the spirit of Christmas is present like nowhere else. There is avial, in other south Indian states, murukku (a fried pretzel made of lentil and rice flour), and athirasam gracing the table alongside the Christmas pudding. Sweets like rose cookies, doughnuts and diamond cuts are usually home made like cookies in the western countries.

Tropical plants, children in gaily colored dresses, devout believers attending the midnight or morning Mass, drums and hymns accompany the December 25th celebrations. Santa Clauses in all shapes and sizes but duly attired in their large red dresses and snow white beards give out sweets to children from street corners, shops and even schools. For days in advance, Christmas Carols are sung in Christian households, and a large star is hung up in the front of the house. Gifts are exchanged, tips are given around, and many a Hindu couple ends up spending more on Christmas gifts to each other than they would for a Hindu festival. This is the spirit of Christmas in India.