Kisses and cuddles, cookies and treats, days spent with our grandparents are always so
sweet… Who wouldn’t admit having quality time with their grandparents? If
there’s a grand secret to share, that’s your grandparents. If you want a little
pampering, swing back to them. If you want to get away from mum and dad’s
scolding, your grandparents are waiting with open arms. Yes, that’s the
adorable relationship we share with them. Going out fishing, on walks, hearing
old stories, baking with grandma, being pampered by them… there are countless
things we enjoy in a unique way. They certainly deserve a day to be honoured
and that day is celebrated on the feast of St Anne, with church celebrations on
the following Sunday.
St Anne was the mother of Immaculate Mary
and the grandmother of Jesus. Since ages, Christians have considered St Anne
precious and as Mary’s role model. Being the grandmother of Jesus, grandparents
are celebrated with joy among families.
Adeline D’Mello from Moira, a grandmother
of three, shares her experiences with her grandchildren: “My grandchildren are
very close to me. When they were little, they used to collect their pocket
money and try to buy something for me, like a dress material, something just to
make me happy. They have grown up now but we all live together and still
celebrate all occasions with the same love. The relationship between children
and their grandparents is a beautiful one.” In Goa, every church has various activities
on this particular day. One place that has a grand celebration is the church of
St Anne in Talaulim. According to sources, legend has it that while
construction was in progress, an elderly villager named Bartholomeu Marchon had
a vision of an old lady donning a hat with a staff in hand. The old lady
promulgated to Bartholomeu that the Church under construction was her home.
Another story says that a lady who was very ill was cured by the old woman. The
village priest understood this as a sign of divine intervention, and
consecrated the church in honour of St Anne.
Interestingly, this feast is also known as Cucumber feast
(Touxeachem Feast). Many Goans and tourists visit this place during the feast,
offering cucumbers to St Anne. Why cucumbers in particular? Well, that’s a
mystery in itself, but often, newlywed couples come there to take blessings,
offering cucumbers. According to Fr Adolf Alvares from Our Lady of Grace
Church, Bicholim, “Joaquim (Mary’s father) and St Anne were gifted with a child
after 40 years of marriage. So every new couple buys cucumbers and offers it to
St Anne as sign of seeking grace in bearing a child.”
The tradition sounds even more interesting when see you local
Goan bachelors offering spoons in the church. This is done by those looking for
a wife. Women seeking husbands in turn offer lentils.
While these things go on at St Anne church in Talaulim,
simultaneously, other churches in Goa celebrate the feast in different ways.
They have games, music, snacks, plays and activities that make the grandparents
happy and express the gratitude felt by the young ones.
At
St John the Baptist Church, Old Goa, every year, the youth and children put up
plays and skits dedicated to their grandparents. However, taking care of our
old grandparents is more important, which is why this year, the church has
chosen to celebrate it differently. “Earlier, we had these skit competitions
and card making among children, but we realised that spending time together and
being with them is more valuable. And as it’s not always easy for the elderly
to all come to the church, we will be having a ward wise celebration, where we
will come together at one person’s house; different people with bring along
different eatables and we’ll have a celebratory time,” says Tancia Pires, a
catechist who believes in making events more meaningful.
