It's Christmas Day today. It is a time that brings joy and hope for a better world. But things have changed over the years in the way we celebrate Christmas in Goa. In the past we used to share home-made Christmas sweets with neighbors, especially those who are in mourning and do not prepare sweets at home. During our childhood days we used to collect bamboo sticks to make the star, branches of pine trees to make the Christmas tree and dry grass and millet to make the crib as creativity comes to the fore in depicting the Nativity scene. Now all this is easily available in the market. Families from the locality came together to prepare sweets that were as diverse as they were delicious. The tradition of carol singing is also about spreading joy and connecting with neighbours. In the past we used to send and receive Christmas cards. All the cards that were received were hung from a string above the crib. The digital age has replaced cards with WhatsApp forwards, video calls and text messages. There still exist glimpses of the old Christmas spirit. The essence of Christmas celebrations is alive and kicking, especially in the villages. Goa being a tourist destination, commercialization has taken away much of the traditions of Christmas. Now Goa’s Christmas is a blend of the traditional and the modern.
