Christmas and its simple joys”once old and cherished traditions that bound communities together”are slowly fading away. Ready-made stars in countless varieties now flood the scene, while the old bamboo and metal stars have all but disappeared.
WhatsApp has sounded a death knell to Christmas greeting cards. All traditional sweets are marketed in beautiful presentation boxes, cakes included. Local self-help groups are relieving housewives of the labour of love of traditional sweets and thus have become commercialised.
The laborious village cribs are now things of the past, and the joy of creative, hands-on activities has given way to the new and convenient. Chinese decorations are everywhere”innovative, cheap, and attractive. Village-level parties after midnight Mass have vanished. The star competitions at church squares have remained, and prizes of encouragement for all participants have made them attractive. Carol singing at doorsteps on foot has become motorised. Christmas Father is in stores. Future Christmas activities will be found in the archives. Merry Christmas.
