Christmas came early to Neeraj Surana and Jessica Gomes Surana’s New Alipore house as she opened her doors for this special The Telegraph shoot. A fantastic meal, happy faces and pure smiles summed up what Christmas should be like. Time with the family. Pure bliss. Jessica told The Telegraph why she says ‘no’ only on Christmas!
What does Christmas mean to you?
Christmas has always been a time of the family and close friends coming together. It’s a time for gratitude and prayer. The day begins with mass and it’s that time of the year when we are reaffirming our faith in the almighty. I have been running around the whole year. This is the time to stop, rest and everything else becomes secondary. The core is the home.
How traditional is Christmas in your house right now?
In my house, it is as traditional as the time I remember Christmas from my childhood. We used to stay in a joint family when we were kids and I still remember going for the 8.30am morning service and after the service we went around wishing our grandparents, uncles and aunties. Then it was all about going under the Christmas tree and taking out the gifts. The whole morning and afternoon would be spent with the family. Lunch was a staple diet on Christmas Day. It was Peas Pulao, Chicken Korma and Pork Vindaloo and then all the sweet treats. Till date, I have maintained the same thing.
Jessica’s table was laden Christmas cake, home-made grape wine, macaroons, pastries, jujubes
Jessica’s table was laden with the Christmas feast — Peas Pulao, Chicken Korma and Chicken Vindaloo
This sounds so warm!
(Laughs) I have also started making my own cakes. After my mother passed away, I felt like I needed to take charge... take care of my siblings. We are six siblings and I am right in the middle. Christmas celebrations are at my place now.
It’s been 10 years that I have been baking my own cake and I make 50 pounds and every year, I try to make something new. I go back to my granny’s bakers in Ekbalpore in the wee hours of the morning... it’s a poky shop... and collect it in the evening. I don’t like the machine mix. We also have this tradition of putting all the dry preserves into Old Monk (rum) for at least 15 days before it goes for baking. I still go back to New Market to buy my preserves from the same shop my granny bought hers from... the jujubes and barley sugar. I usually make a fruit-and-nut cake and a walnut cake.
The pork shop owners in Taratala also know me because I would go with dad. I try to retain these small things consciously in this fast-changing world. We also go to Bow Barracks once in the week leading up to Christmas.
How many days in advance do you start your Christmas preparations?
The cake goes back at least three weeks (to go for Christmas). I put up the Christmas tree at least two weeks ago so that the children get the feel, but the Christmas carols start from December 1, from the morning. The children and myself, we do a little jig. I love it!
Do you pick up your tree from a particular shop?
From the centre of New Market. It’s that feel that you get. We usually keep our Christmas tree for many years. When we got married (10-and-half years back) and got our own house, we’d got this tree. The decorations change. This year it is red and gold and last year it was blue and silver.
Jessica and Neeraj enjoyed the meal with kids Vivaan, Kaira, and, The Telegraph!
Are the kids actively involved in decorating the tree?
From the time they have been aware of Christmas, we have made them do something on the tree.
What is the one thing that you think Neeraj enjoys most?
The cake! He finishes most of the cake! He cannot control. The pounds just vanish. I make all the effort for the fruit cake, but I don’t have it myself. I love the Pork Vindaloo.
How are evenings spent?
My father’s mother was in Canada but every year she would come down to Kolkata. So, we would gather at our chhoto pishi’s house for dinner. Turkey roasts and cold cuts, Russian salad.... This was right up till the pandemic (struck). She shifted to Bangalore, but she has maintained this tradition after granny passed away. This year we are catching up with close friends... 10 of us... I am planning to take my Pork Vindaloo and the cakes.
What do you do on Christmas eve?
For years, I was emceeing. December 25 is no work. You have to say ‘no’ on one day and that is Christmas Day.
Who plays Santa?
Neeraj and I keep everything under the tree at midnight. The gifts that you have in the picture are my gifts from Secret Santa from my school (Jessica is the principal of Loreto Convent Entally)! My kids are very upset that my gifts have come earlier this year! (Laughs) A couple of weeks before Christmas they write their letters to Santa and the list keeps increasing. They keep wondering how Santa will enter the house or will he be scared of the dogs?! They give it to me because they believe the post office is near my school! As long as they believe and keep this simplicity alive, it’s great.
If you could write a letter to Santa this year, what would you ask for?
I pray for good health of my near and dear ones... both physical and mental. I ask for a lot of strength because of the multiple roles I play. I would also pray for a vacation soon because I am really tired and haven’t taken a break in years.