As the big day
approaches, people commence preparations for it. They make plans to make the
most of Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The presence of friends and family or
someone special who has been invited specifically are opportunities that don’t
come along everyday. Different families prepare differently.
Susan
Barton, a resident of Majorda is now in Mumbai preparing for Christmas. She
said, “Christmas eve will be a stay at home time after taking mom for mass at
an elder care home. Christmas day is lunch with the whole family and three
elderly people who have been invited from an elder care home. There will be a
secret Santa giving gifts to everyone. This year we have decided to include the
elderly in our celebrations. It will be different. I am looking forward to it.
I will return to Goa on January 5 th and I am looking forward to that day but
till then I intend to enjoy Christmas in Bandra.”
For
Veeam Braganza, plans for Christmas Eve are not decided as yet. For Christmas
however it will be a hearty lunch. She said they intended to have a traditional
lunch. That would mean a pigling or a roasted chicken and baked fish. It would
she said be according to Goan tradition to ensure people pig-out on the table.
Lunch would be followed by the opening of Christmas presents. There would be
family and friends in the house which is based in Saligao. When asked if there
would be any surprise with so many kids in the house that day, time would be
spent to ensure they fall in line. It would, she said, be a good noisy house
that day.
For
a musician like Tania Andre the two days are hectic. Tania said as a musician
she would be performing at the Taj Convention Centre and later a Japanese
restaurant called Izumi based in Assagao. She said she was in the business for
twenty years and her husband Andre for more than twenty five years. She said
her children had their own gigs and the house would be empty on those days.
Christmas
in Goa is about the family. Richard Dias said the days would mean the family
coming together. Christmas Eve meant going for midnight mass then returning to
have some pudding with a glass of wine or coffee. There would be a lot of
chatting taking place that could continue through the night. He said, “Some
people may go for mass in the morning and the rest would partake of breakfast.
Lunch will start and will be accompanied by spirits like whisky or tequila.
This would be followed by a sing song session. It will be a day of eating,
drinking and singing. There will be a surprise because with so many cousins and
uncles meeting someone will try something new during the singsong. It is about
spending time with family.”
For
some it could mean involving the entire community in the celebrations. Mark
Mendes runs a Ngo which is working to ensure the Goan ethos stays. He said, “It
is family time with everything happening at home. I am however looking at Sukur
where we will be having a garden Christmas party. People from various villages
will come together to sell their local produce. My village prepared homemade
vinegar and handmade decorations. Others are making and selling cold pressed
coconut oil from their own gardens. Others are selling their own sweets and
food products. I intend to encourage people to keep the old and ensure it does
not die out”. He went on to say it had happened yesterday. The people had
conducted their own choir. The Church also has a moving choir which goes around
in a vehicle. On Christmas day there would be a waddo lunch. Every house would
bring a dish and everyone would break bread together. The Wado choir and the
church choir would both perform. He said everyone encouraged the children to
participate and they usually came as an understudy so at some time they would
take over.
The
urge to spread the good spirit is also strong amongst people. Gema C. Fernandes
said the family usually distributed sweets among people who were in mourning.
They would also go to the old age home which was near the house. They would
then go for midnight mass and then they go for a party. On Christmas she said
they would have lunch with family and friends who were invited.
For
popular jazz singer Laura Santana, her plans are in place. She said,”My plans
for Christmas Eve will be a performance with my Trio The Laura Santana Trio at
Artjuna, Anjuna for their Christmas Eve Lunch 2pm to 5pm where we would be
performing a plethora of Genres besides the Christmassy songs.. On Christmas
Day we are at A South Goa Resort for a private Christmas Dinner Party once
again with my Trio”.
For
veteran Petula Colaco it would mean a lot of work. She said, “It is work work
work. I will be very busy just like last year. This year will be even more
hectic.”
Then
there are those like Minisha D’souza. She said she had no plans as yet. She
said she would be with the family and have a hearty lunch and then perhaps go
for a dance but then nothing had been planned as yet because she was busy with
work.
Some
people like to stick to the tried and tested like Fertdinho Barreto who said he
would go for the midnight mass followed by a sumptuous lunch on Christmas day
and then party in the evening.
Some
people express their love by extending their business for members of the group.
Melroy Pinto said he would go for mass as usual. On Christmas day the family
would meet for lunch. They invite friends who don’t have anyone to celebrate
with. He runs a water park and all the guests go and enjoy themselves in the
park. They then go for a dance at Dasya in Porvorim with a very limited guest
list. He said it was great fun and everyone would have a great time.
Christmas
Eve and Christmas day will be celebrated with a bow to tradition mixed with
that typical Goan spirit.
