Discover the historical significance of Christmas in India and explore how it evolved into the cherished pan-Indian celebration we know toda
From St. Thomas to Santa: The Fascinating Journey of Christmas in India
🎄✨ From St. Thomas to Santa: The Fascinating Journey of Christmas in India
🎅🏼 From the arrival of Christianity by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD to Portuguese influence in Goa and British colonial traditions, Christmas in India has evolved over centuries, shaped by diverse cultures and traditions. Today, it is a fusion of religious rituals and vibrant cultural practices. Whether through festive church services, family feasts, or colorful decorations, Christmas in India truly reflects the country's pluralistic spirit.
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When you feel the goodness of health in your gut, the bright, sparkly, warm and happy spirit of Christmas stays with you round the year! Merry Christmas! 🎄 #christmastree #kefirco #kefircogutfeeling #kefircogutsnglory #indianchristmas #healthyfood #healthisyourwealth #healthishappiness #guthealth #guthealing #christmas #gutfeeling #changeofseasons #welcomewinter #snowflake #kefir #kefirorganik #waterkefir #kefirmilk #kefirdrink #milkkefir #probioticsinindia #chucklinggoat #kefirko #thekefircompany #goliveprobiotics #nourishmeorganics #lifewaykefir (at Gurgaon, Haryana) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bry6AExgXBP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4q19dcgs3yyr
Testing the fires in the suites. #bujerafort #christmasinudaipur #luxuryboutiquehotel #indianchristmas #logfires (at Bujera Fort) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrsR4pqA4fA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=160cgp38yqvs3
Some Christmas Cheer from my kitchen to yours ❣️❣️🎄🎄🎄🎄 ❣️❣️.Featured here are Double Chocolate Cake ( Eggless) with Chocolate buttercream Frosting and sugar cookies in Christmas colours 🎄❣️🎄❣️🎄❣️ Will be teaching these bakes and more interesting and yummy party appetisers and desserts in my upcoming ‘ Christmas Culinary Therapy ‘workshop for children in @palladiumchennai On 24th December . Excited to see you and your little ones .Hope you have registered . Limited seats . Seats filling fast . Hurry ! Link in @palladiumchennai bio. . . . . . #masterchefmom #indianchristmas #handsoncookingworkshop #chennai #christmaseve #foodbloggersofindia#creativecooking #christmas #baking #chocolate #merrychristmas #chocolatecake #yummy #delicious #frosting #thefeedfeed #chocolatefrosting #strawberries #foodstagram #homechef #homebaker #friday #fridayfun #tgif https://www.instagram.com/p/Brp4pMelvxh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v8o9i4fcxtcx
I'm still trying to coax the melted white chocolate out of my eyebrows and my favourite jeans have ended up sporting, not only a nice thick coat of flour, but the distinct appearance of a bloody crime scene (a.k.a. the raspberries that profusely bled all over them). Since December 24th, the oven has raised the temperature of our kitchen to something that feels post-apocalyptic. This, I think, is what they call Christmas.
How it all began...
Seven days ago, my mother announced that we were having a picnic on Christmas day. We all looked stunned, although according to her, it’s not actually that startling at all. Apparently, by her sometimes strategic recollection, ‘we’ve had Christmas picnics before, at least once or twice!’ My cousin and I looked at each other and frowned in disbelief. ‘The last time we did anything for Christmas,’ she snorted, ‘we went to see Slumdog Millionaire together’.
A Very Merry (and Hindu) Christmas?
Now let’s set the scene. There was no tree. No presents, no turkey, no creepy old bearded men dressed in Coca-Cola colours*. I was prepared for a room full of vegetarian Hindus, varying in (fairly low) levels of religiosity and observance, who descended upon us and ate, chatted, argued, and awkwardly wondered whether they were doing Christmas right. It’s no wonder. We haven’t exactly made a habit of celebrating Christmas. In fact, this Christmas – the 22nd of my existence – is probably the first one where we thought of doing anything at all. A work colleague remarked, ‘that must have sucked growing up’. I disagree. There are umpteen Hindu festivals a year. By the time December rolls around, most of us have had about as much eating, gift exchanging and exposure to our crazy families as we can take.
Nonetheless, this year, we did Christmas. I bargained Mum down from a picnic (Crowds? Children? Stinking hot barbecues? And this is meant to be a celebration?) to lunch with family and friends in the backyard. I also took the opportunity to embrace the Christmas Spirit, by making Mum buy me expensive things to play with in the kitchen. I looked up a recipe for a buche de noel (yule log for you plebs). And preparations for the birth of Christ ensued.
My family isn’t averse to celebrating festivities that fall outside the scope of the religion that we’ve inherited. The beauty of Hinduism#, in my opinion - and at least in my experience - is its diversity of practice and its inclusivity. Few Hindus would think anything of having a Christmas tree, fasting on Ramadan or lighting a hanukkiyah lamp with Jewish friends on Hanukkah. Some Indian Christians attend Hindu temples to celebrate Christmas. Some Indian Hindus go to churches to celebrate Christmas.
Our familial resistance to Christmas thus far can be blamed on a combination of laziness, and impracticability (Indians like to use Christmas to go to India). And, of course, there's that little obstacle in a lack of Christian faith, I suppose. Not that it really matters right? Or does it? Is Christmas restricted to practicing Christians? Do most people go to church on Christmas day? Who knows?
Despite these challenges, my buche (that was falling apart in the freezer) was a winning success! But now I need to figure out what I’m going to feed people on the day after Christmas, the day of boxing (?), so I should go.
Here's hoping you too had a merry Christmas – or Hanukkah, or Festivus – folks!
...and now for some notes (please don't hate us!)...
*I did go through a phase in high school where I dressed up as (brown, female) Santa for a few Christmas dances and the like…but that’s a story for another day.
#This post contains a number of personalised generalisations that are based on my own experiences and beliefs. This is not intended to be an accurate, critical account of Hindu belief or practice. Nor other beliefs and practices. Take it with a grain of salt, i.e. don’t read this and send Michael – or myself (though how did you get my email address you creep?!) - angry emails. Thanks! xo
