MoodsAndColors

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone here had a merry Christmas irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. Yes, irrespective of all that. I read with wonder Karan Thapar’s Sunday Sentiments. And his observations were confirmed by my visiting friend from the US. Times evolve and old customs give in to new ones, but for some of us the old order remains.

With Christmas came a host of memories that chronicle how priorities change through times. My earliest memories of Christmas celebration are from Prague. Two incidents rush forward from a muted clamour of memories. The first one is the memory of the Christmas being celebrated in the school. How the class was decorated and a Christmas tree stood at the corner of our class. All the children brought their gifts and kept it under the tree. The class teacher then picked up each gift and announced the name of its receiver. Total bliss.

The other one was how being the elder sibling, I conspired with my dad to hide Santa’s gift for my darling sis. We were to hide it in a small enclosure meant for switches etc., at the entrance of our residence. She already had an inkling of something being cooked up. But she was smarter than we gave her credit for. Just as the father daughter duo were tiptoeing back after safely hiding Santa’s gift she frightened us by coming out of her hiding, clapping and jumping hilariously. Needless to say that was the last of Santa years for the two of us.

Or maybe I am wrong. The Santa days were to come back again when Dove started relishing chocolates. Months ahead she would be told to behave herself as Santa’s inspectors would be looking for well behaved children who deserve gifts from him. So  finally, when the gifts arrived they served a double purpose, the sheer joy of receiving the gift and a boost to her pride. She was the chosen one. Well indeed she is. But as she grew up she would try to refute the existence of Santa. Once the gifts stopped coming as a punishment of her doubts she quickly realized the folly of being so loud. This year it was, “ Mama what will Santa bring for me? Could it be an iPod?” Well doubt kills many a joy of life. Sooner or later she had to learn it. Nevertheless, Mama promised her a gift in the coming New Year.

With Santa missing in action, this Christmas wasn’t that christmasy like the earlier ones. But Jingle Bells kept echoing throughout the day as the sledge kept running through the snowy paths.

 Happy New Year to all of you.

 

26.12.06 18:02