Home for Christmas

It's the season of cheer. But, against the backdrop of spiralling global recession and a looming threat of terror, Christmas is witnessing a lull.

With the city keeping this Christmas a low key-affair, people warm up their homes with decorations for their own private dos!

It’s the season of cheer. But, against the backdrop of spiralling global recession and a looming threat of terror, Christmas is witnessing a lull. “Atleast as far as shopping and outdoor partying is concerned,” says Ruth Isadass, a teacher, who like many others of the city makes do with dressing up the house for the season. “This, because I want to save money to donate to the Mumbai blast victims,” she says, as we step into her house, where the smell of freshly baked cake and a hut-house of Santa, his elves and other characters of the Christmas story greet us. Put together in the second week of December, the decorations will stay put till the onset of new year, Isadass tells us. Said to bring happiness and joy, and considered ceremonious now not only by Christians but across religions, “The tree, lights, reindeers… they all depict our love for the festival,” says Principal of St Stephens School, Harold Carver, who says that this is one of those days when he and his sister get together to share the moments of joy. “Not lavish, yet tasteful,” Carver describes the festival and the tree that’s decked-up with baubles, small bells painted gold and silver, candy sticks wrapped in red and white, stars of different shapes and sizes, pine cones, candies, tinsel and miniature balloons, that brings out the festivity of the day to its best.

With most taking out last year’s decorations or those handed down the years and adding in only the latest additions with fresh buys, “The stockings resting next to the Christmas tree’s what I bought this year,” reels Vijay Bakshi, Principal of Woodlands House School, Panchkula, as she shows us corners that stand out in the red and green theme. “Red is for happiness and green for prosperity,” the lady points out adding that these are two attributes that she wishes to spread. Probably that’s the reason that most of the neatly wrapped gifts under her four decorated trees are for the poor. “This Christmas eve, it’s going to be all about us and those who are a little less privileged,” says Vijay, who feels that indulgent merrymaking is making way for self-introspection and meaningful soul searching.

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However, it would be wrong to say that the yuletide season has been robbed of its effusive radiance. “It’s just become less extravagant,” says Arushi Prashar, a student of GCG-11, who feels that it’s the time to reinforce familial ties. Partying, she says has been replaced by the will to stay cozy with one’s family. “The Mumbai disaster has just made the celebration days dearer and this Christmas we observe the festivity by dressing up our house for in-house jollification,” chirps Prashar, who’s recycled all the decorations from waste — used cotton became snowflakes, old jewellery fashioned into hangings, dupattas twisted into drapes, foil paper cut into sun, moon and the stars and velvet formed the base for keeping gifts.

With most houses flaunting traditional wreaths, table decorations, designer mantles and twinkling white lights and nightlights, the ornaments mostly have a base of glass, metal, wood or ceramic. “Some of the decorations come out perfect, while others don’t. But then all remind you of the special moments in your life,” smiles Sophia Christina, who’s working with a PR firm, as she takes us around the big star that highlights the balcony, the lights that came on as we step in and the the tape recorder that plays the melody of Christmas carols. This one’s to the true spirit of Christmas!