Christmas

I was having my regular morning walk today and guess what, I could smell the freshly baked cookies, may be it was true, may be it was just the atmosphere, so thought of jotting down my memories for christmas.

Christmas has a very special place in my mind. It makes me nostalgic almost every year and takes me back to my school days.

aaahhh !!!!!!! I still feel as though it was just last year that I was in school. It all used to start with second semester, mostly after the Diwali vacation. We all used to look forward for Sports Day, christmas celebrations and a yearly gathering (a cultural event).

Unlike now, Novemeber and December were soothingly cold which used to be perfect for all types of activities. List of sport events was sent to every class, nearly everybody participated in some or the other event, then the preliminaries, the quarter-finals the semi-finals followed. And finals were reserved for the day before Christmas vacation.

Our Principal (Sister Mercy) used to announce the date for "Sports Day" and then the entire school environment used to get elated, papers printed with christmas carols were sent out to each class, we now looked forward to usually boring PT (Personal Training) class. Everybody gathered in the school basement and next 45 minutes were pure joy, we practiced christmas carols. This routine followed for nearly 15 days before the school closing (which generally was 5 days before christmas and which also happens to be the Sports Day every year).

Attendance was made compulsary for Sports day, I still wonder why one would want to stay home and miss the March Past, the cheering for your house, teasing the girls from other house, boasting about how good our own house is, praying for the house to win and last but not least, the Christmas skit. (entire school is divided in 4 houses, viz Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, does anybody recollect Harry Potter)

After the prize distribution, we now gathered in the center of the ground for the much awaited skit. I clearly remember, we used start singing carols and one by one, Angels from the skit appeared and sang a couple of carols.

Suddenly there would be loud noise, an Angel (now I know, it was Gabriel) would tell Virgin Mary that she would soon give birth to a child who would be the "Messiah of the Lord" and would bring peace on the earth. Joseph and Mary were now shown going from one place to another as Mary is in deep pain, but nobody lents them a room for the night. Later they take shelter in a stable where Christ is born. The angel appears and sings "Silent Night, Holy Night" and also informs sheperhds about the Christ's birth.

The shepherds visit the baby and are follwed by three Kings, who bring lots of gifts for the Lord Christ. (which was the best part for me, as I used to envy the gifts :) and hoped I would someday get those many gifts)

This used to end the play but not the celebration, one of our teachers' dressed as Santa would throw chocolates at us and then there used to be huge chaos to collect those chocolates (though each of us got one later).

Sister Mercy would cut cake and we were all given a piece of christmas cake ( a plum cake usually). I do not know about others, but for me, it used to be a very special day as I loved the Play and believed deeply in it. I always prayed I could see snow on Christmas, and I did, last year in Chicago.

I still get smitten by all the memories. Every year I wish I could go to school to watch the Play.

The decorations I see here fill me with joy, the winter chill fulfills my wish of perfect christmas. The christmas movies create a cosy and romantic (meaning, colourful here)atmosphere, perfect for christmas, perfect for holidays. Somewhere deep down, I believe in the goodness of christmas. I am sure this season of red rekindles Love, Faith and Kind-ness in every heart

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!