Christmas Sparks Day 07 Decembers To Remember

Christmas memories of my childhood are still fresh in my mind.

The star would be hung on December 1st itself, and from then on, I would countdown every day until Christmas. Since they used to give gifts for those who would ‘come to church regularly’, I was happy to go to church every day. There would be a lot of children. After Mass, the sister would write down the names of all those who came. Then she would teach us the prayers for each day like ‘Kunjunni’ prayer and a crib for Baby Jesus.

As each day passed, I was getting ready to welcome Baby Jesus.

By the time December was halfway through, we would start making the crib at home. My father would allocate work to each of us, and mine would always be the Christmas tree. We would cut down and bring a tree from an open field near us, then we would fix it and paint it white. In between, we would go to my sister’s house across the street and help her build her crib.

By the evening of the 24th, everything would be finished. That evening, I will go to carolling. First with the family unit. Then us kids by ourselves. Going with them was a different vibe. We’d sing songs and throw pebbles at the mango trees on the road. Every time, the dog from the nearby house would chase us, and everyone would run in different directions. It was always fun to watch the one dressed as Santa Claus running.

Then, I’d come home, bathe, put on the new clothes, and run to the church. There, the first thing I’d go to see was the decorations of the church’s crib. By that time, my friends would have arrived. All of us would attend Mass, and then we’d sit and watch each programme in the church.

Even now, when I remember all that, I feel a certain joy in my heart.

Shan Thankachan