MARGAO: The COVID-19 pandemic may have dampened the Christmas celebrations, but on the plus side it has ensured that families will spend more time together.
In many families, this was the time relatives would come down to Goa, either from other parts of India or abroad. This year, while such large get-togethers and family outings have been reduced or are not happening, families are still taking the time to enjoy some age-old traditions.
“On the flip side, we have more time to spend with our family this year as opposed to the previous years, where we would be busy and occupied with various functions. This year, my family members including my newly-married daughter-in-law sat together and made Christmas sweets. Even my mother got involved and we followed her recipes. We haven’t been able to meet our cousins and siblings but managed to find a way to get these homemade delicacies dropped off at their places,” said Rita Fernandes, from Velim, who works with a travel agency.
She has decided to stay at home for the time being but she says she thanks God for seeing that her family and friends have been safe during the pandemic.
The inability to attend mass in person has also been a dampener for many, especially the senior citizens who can’t attend masses that have been organised by their respective parishes.
“I haven’t been for mass since the pandemic began. Earlier, for me, that was part of my routine and I would attend daily mass as well as Sunday mass where I would also get the chance to interact with my community, even if it was for a few minutes. From the spiritual side and the companionship, this is turning out to a far quieter Christmas, which I will celebrate at home with my family. I am grateful that at least we have these online services, which I can participate in or else I would have felt incomplete,” said Filomena Andrade from Mapusa, who lives with her son’s family.
The grandmother also rues that she couldn’t get time to meet her grandchildren, due to health reasons and is sad as most of them, especially the tiny tots have grown up in this time and she missed that part of their lives.
Another ritual during the season was how parishioners, especially the youth would go house to house singing Christmas carols and working together to help decorate their churches, chapels or help make arrangements for the midnight masses and so forth. Even choir practices took a hit with people unwilling to come out due to health concerns.
“It has been a lukewarm season in that respect and we found it difficult to get enough volunteers but we still managed to work something out. We divided ourselves into groups that consisted of members from their respective wards. While some of them managed to sing on the roads and families came to their door steps, others made fun videos which we sent in our community. There is something about walking past these houses that are specially lit up and decorated and that is still there this year and keeps that Christmas spirit alive,” said Christopher Rodrigues from Margao, who organises youth related activities.
He added that given that they had gone through a subdued Easter and a year where feasts and regular masses were a restricted affair, they were more prepared for this season.
There was still another perspective, and Rosy Almeida from Calangute said that Christmas is not about parties or lavish celebrations and that this year Catholics have been given a chance to adore, worship and praise the God in a more humble way. She recalled how Jesus was born in the most humble settings, in a manger and pointed out to the recent message of the Archbishop of Goa about how one should focus more on the spiritual side of the season. She also pointed out that they (her family and friends) have been helping out the needy as their way of celebrating Christmas.
