Memories of Childhood Christmases

Dr Remy Perumal ,Consultant Physician and Freelance Journalist

It is Christmas time!

This year, even Father Christmas will shiver in the chill wind of recession. Pretty much every family will have to tighten its belt. The trimmings at Christmas – the fanfare and festivities will inevitably be subdued. Now, more than ever we should embrace the comforting traditions of the true spirit of Christmas and reminisce in those structured certainties of our childhood Christmases.

I clearly recall the many Christmases we celebrated in our family home in Kotahena, that genteel suburb of Colombo. Family traditions and religious convictions moulded our views, expectations and our approach to the celebrations.

Preparations for Christmas had many facets. Houses were given a face lift - walls colour washed, doors, gates and windows painted, furniture varnished and floors polished, all undertaken with a great deal of enthusiasm. Apart from the colour washing, the aforementioned tasks were done by family members. Polishing of floors continued into the evening of Christmas eve.

Family shopping was on a week day in early December. Dad took the afternoon off, and the rest of the family joined him in Pettah. Started with clothing materials, shoes and toys followed by the search for various ingredients, for the Christmas Cake and Satti Dhosi. After an exhausting afternoon, we were happy to take a rickshaw ride home with all the ‘goodies’.

Carols

The Colombo Chetty Carols was, a well known highlight of the Christmas Season. As participating choristers, we attended carol practices weekly from September, and more frequently in December, leading to a grand practice on the Sunday before Christmas. That final rehearsal was with full instrumental accompaniment.

The Christmas cake was made in early December. The preliminary process of mixing the ingredients was followed a few days later by the making of the cake itself. Once made, it was transported with the utmost care, to the trusted local bakery and handed over to the baker, with special instructions. I do clearly remember delivering the large cake tray and contents at mid-day and collecting the baked cake later, the same evening.

Then came the making of the Satti Dhosi, which is a Colombo Chetty speciality. The ingredients, namely sugar, semolina, ghee, cadjunuts and flour were mixed in a large brass wok specially reserved for this purpose. It was cooked over an open fire, mixing continuously using a long handled metal ladle, as the ingredients were added. After two to three hours, on achieving the correct texture, this ‘piping hot’ final product was transferred into porcelain plates, carefully levelled and left to cool.

On Christmas eve our kitchen was a hive of activity – Mum would be hands on, preparing Christmas lunch. Yellow Rice, chicken curry, beef satay, seeni sambol, pickle, aubergines and cutlets were all on the menu.

Midnight Mass

Attending Midnight Mass was, for us, the most important Christmas obligation.

By 10pm on Christmas eve our family was ready for Midnight Service, all spruced up in our new Christmas attire. Mum attended Mass at St.Lucia’s Cathedral which was celebrated by the Cardinal, whilst Dad, my brothers and I walked to Mater Dolorosa Church at New Chetty Street.

The Midnight Mass at Mater Dolorosa Church, had a packed congregation. We sang at the midnight mass. Singing of the ‘Gloria in exelcis Deo’ was accompanied by the pealing of church bells. Simultaneously, the ambience outside the church would turn electric – in the streets, the deafening sound of crackers and fireworks and from the nearby Colombo Harbour, a prolonged blast of ships sirens.

Midnight Mass was followed by carols at the church led by the choir. Then the choristers and instrumentalists would embark on their ‘carolling tour’ in the special bus arranged for the purpose. Two senior members of the Colombo Chetty Community would direct the driver of the Carol Bus to each designated address. At each house, the two seniors wished the occupants whilst the choir sang at least two carols from the repertoire.

This joyful exercise of house to house carol singing concluded about 6.00am on Christmas Day, at the choir master’s house. There, we collected the Choristers’ Christmas gifts and returned home for a well earned sleep.

About mid day we woke up to receive our Christmas presents at home, after which we enjoyed Christmas lunch. We visited our surviving grandparents late afternoon on Christmas Day and returned home in the evening, to receive visiting relatives.

We then lit our own fireworks at home. Christmas visiting and festivities continued right through the Christmas week. New Year’s Eve celebrations started with a well attended evening service and midnight mass. The New Year too was heralded by crackers, fireworks and sound of ships sirens reverberating in the midnight air. At one time, Christmas visiting and festivities continued until 6th January. However, as the Christmas holidays were curtailed, they faded away after New Years day.

They are cherished memories, not for the echoing, wax scented churches with the carolling congregations but, because, those were true Christmases, without the hype and commercial build-up which diverts attention from its religious significance.

“For unto us is born a child. His name is Jesus”

“O Come let us adore Him”