| In Kerala Christmas is
the most popular of the Christian celebrations. No other celebration
is so cheerful, so enriched with so many traditions and ceremonies.
There is an array of happy practices in the Christmas star, the
crib, Christmas plays, Christmas cards and carols, the Christmas
tree, Christmas presents and Father Christmas.
In Kerala on Christmas eve, Dec 24, Carlos and song developed from
earlier nativities are the cheeriest aspect of the Christmas festivities.
All Christmas gifts are the presents from Father Christmas, the
kind hearted provider. He comes armed with gifts of every size and
shape for the kids who love him.
Shops and homes take on a festive air. Streets and markets go gay
with festival wares. Dances, songs, Christmas trees, Santa Claus
moving through the streets with his glittering colorful robes, glowing
long white beard and shaking hand with children in the streets form
the main attraction of this festival. Families get together around
sparkling Christmas trees from whose branches hang numerous lovely
gifts. When the youngsters receive the gifts and open them, they
dance with joy. Both men and women, young and old take pains in
designing the cribs, sheep and shepherds, old Joseph, young Virgin
Mary, Child Jesus nestling in his cradle of hay, angels floating
in the star-studded sky and the Three Wise Men on the fringe of
horizon.
The day is spent in meeting friends and relatives. Delicious dishes
of turkey, wine and Christmas cakes are eaten and served to visitors.
Greeting cards to wish joy and peace are exchanged. The night is
enlivened with dances, carols and mid-night masses in all the churches.
Youngsters dance hilariously on the streets singing carols to the
accompaniment of musical instruments. The most popular carol is
:-
"Silent night, holy night ,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace."
Thus the Christmas season is rung in with a feeling of happiness
and goodwill amidst the clouds of discontent.
In Kerala Syrian Christians celebrated it on 7th January with procession
of elephants and musicians. Those procession were almost like Hindu
Temple festivals. It was believed that those processions spiritually
elevated the places through which they passed and also prevented
epidemics. The music, fireworks and illuminations turned cold, dark
winter nights into bright, dazzling days. Gaily decorated crosses
of gold or silver were the main sacred symbols that were taken out
in processions but with arrival of the Portuguese on the scene,
images of saints were added to the procession. Those age-old pageants
are now being replaced in Syrian churches by community prayers and
services, aiming at spiritual uplift of the congregation. Yet most
of the Syrian Catholic Churches even to-day take out small processions.
--------------------------------------------------------
MAA Kerala,
Specialists in Sending presents for Christmas to
kerala. We send flowers, cake , mundu, kasavu mundu, kasavu sari,
Sari, toys, and sweets to kerala for Christmas.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you to
send a Christmas gift to your loved one in kerala,
email: sales@maa-kerala.com
or browse our gift categories.
|
