“What do you do on Christmas Eve?”— this is a question asked to many Christians living in Kolkata and elsewhere. For Christian families, the schedule begins several days ahead of December 25 with shopping, cake-baking and other preparations. Christmas Eve is usually dedicated to family time with intimate dinners followed by midnight mass while Christmas Day itself is about merry-making with family, relatives and friends. Different families have different ways of celebrating pre-Christmas and Christmas. My Kolkata spoke to Kolkatans near and far to know about the usual Christmas scene at their homes, in their own words.
Reuniting with family — the true magic of Christmas: Paul Avijit, marketing professional
A Christmas procession from earlier years that Paul Avijit's family held around Taltala and Doctor’s Lane
Christmas in England is nothing short of a dream for many, whether it's the dazzling lights illuminating Oxford Street in London, attending the finest pantomime in a nearby theatre, or simply sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate from the snug comfort of one's own couch – the Christmas magic is undeniably merry.
Privileged as I am to experience this enchantment in England, my heart still holds onto the memories of Christmases past in Kolkata. Those memories are as fresh as a warm pie and will forever be etched in my heart.
My relatively small family transforms into a larger-than-life gathering during this festive season, creating an incredible sense of togetherness that transcends any past differences. The joy of the season has a unique ability to melt away any discord, leaving behind a trail of shared cheer.
This time of the year used to be particularly bustling back home. From November onwards, my mom would start preparations for the Christmas cake, while my dad, my sister, and I would plan the annual Christmas party. The house would be abuzz with friends, relatives, and children from the neighbourhood – creating a lively atmosphere. And, of course, there was always the eagerly anticipated arrival of Santa! Dad would surprise our locality each year, leaving everyone guessing what mode of transportation Santa would choose. We saw Santa arrive on a horse-drawn carriage, in an open van, and even on a pulled rickshaw with the rickshaw puller dressed as Rudolf. Santa distributed gifts to the little ones we invited and to those who joined in the festive spirit. As Santa left, a vibrant Santa march ensued, distributing orange candies around Taltala, Doctor’s Lane, and the surrounding streets where we lived.
Our December calendar used to be jam-packed with activities organised by our church. Carol services, bonfire nights, parish dinners and annual visits to senior citizen homes in the city were staples. My family played a crucial role in organising these events, and reminiscing about it now, it's something I truly miss.
This year, I am thrilled to be visiting home for Christmas. I can't wait to reunite with my family — the true magic of Christmas!
Every year, every Christmas: Jason Pote, soft skills trainer, and managing partner of a travel company
Jason Pote and his family
Christmas Eve for Christians in Kolkata is generally spent at home, preparing the Christmas lunch, last-minute decorations around the house, getting clothes ready for midnight church service, ironing of suits. Ladies would generally go to the salon to fix their hair and nails.
Christmas Eve dinner is just the family with a little port wine, roast chicken, cold cuts and soup.
No heavy drinking — as the family must attend church service.
We are a family of six — me, my wife, son and daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and my daughter. In my family, I start my day early shopping for chicken, cold cuts and ingredients for salad.
The heart of the home (my wife) also starts early as there is Christmas Eve dinner to prepare. Dinner is an egg, ham and potato salad, a Waldorf salad, cutlets, chicken roast and port wine. Simultaneously, she also prepares the mutton, marinates the fish fillets, and pork vindaloo for the Christmas lunch.
The kitchen activity is wound up by 2pm, so as to grab 40 winks while the lady of the house spends the afternoon in the salon. Evening is spent getting ready for dinner followed by midnight mass at St. Vincent’s Home, Kidderpore.
When we return from church, the lady will have a coffee while I indulge in some “not so holy” spirits.
I wish it could be Christmas everyday: Hansy Mavis Sanctis, content specialist at Accenture
The extended Sanctis family
When it comes to Christmas traditions, ours have continuously evolved over the years. But our main focus for December 24 is getting ready for midnight mass and coming back home for a family dinner. This has been a very special moment for us because the nuclear family spends time together over a few drinks. The dinner is sometimes a 10-course event and for some years, it has been just a snack with each of us sipping on our favourite drink. It is a very special moment for us as we talk about how the year went by, plan for our Christmas dinner where we have guests over, and lastly, show gratitude to each other. As we wrap up for the night, as tradition, we have to take a family photo.
Our Christmas dinner consists of a few Bengali dishes like paturi and fish fry for starters. For the main course my dad makes the Kolkata Dum Biryani, which you will never expect in a Mangalorean household! Every year it has to be there on the menu with other dishes along with other Bengali dishes like Bengali fish curry, alu dum, chholar dal etc. We have never missed it ever! We have guests for Christmas dinner so the spread is very cohesive. It has Mangalorean dishes too – like the Chicken Roce Curry, Neer Dosa, Sannas and Pork Vindaloo.
Our Christmas dinner consists of a few Bengali dishes like paturi and fish fry for starters. For the main course my dad makes the Kolkata Dum Biryani, which you will never expect in a Mangalorean household! Every year it has to be there on the menu with other dishes along with other Bengali dishes like Bengali fish curry, alu dum, chholar dal etc. We have never missed it ever! We have guests for Christmas dinner so the spread is very cohesive. It has Mangalorean dishes too – like the Chicken Roce Curry, Neer Dosa, Sannas and Pork Vindaloo.
O come all ye faithful: Prathana Das, MBA student, Amity University
The Das family
We are now in Odisha, but we have spent many years in Kolkata. Our Christmas begins from December 10 when we start decorating our house. Around this time we also start preparing to bake Christmas cakes and rose cookies. By December 23, our cakes are ready and we go around meeting our relatives, friends and acquaintances and distribute the cakes and other goodies. Finally, on Christmas Eve, we have a grand family dinner where all my uncles, aunts and cousins come over. After dinner, we go for midnight mass. Since my father is a pastor, we go to church on December 25, too. On returning, we again spend time with the family, go out for lunch and dinner and spend quality time with each other. Christmas for us has been about the family coming together. It's that one time when we really want to spend time with each other no matter which part of the country we are in.
What Sweeter Music?: Aditya Alexander, undergraduate student, Seth Anandram Jaipuria College
Aditya Alexander
As the youngest member of the family, I remember Christmas being a magical time as everyone else made it special for me. On Christmas Eve, my father would be busy decorating the house with paper streamers while my sister put the last-minute touches to the Christmas tree. I would help them by making chains and cutting sellotape. Now, I have been passed on the duty of decking out the Christmas tree and crib.
I remember my mother being busy in the kitchen, marinating the chicken roast for dinner and making her special bread pudding. Dad would take a handover to finish the salted beef.
In the evening, we would go out in the neighbourhood to distribute cakes and return home after savouring sweets and chocolate at neighbours’ homes. Once the distribution was done, we would play Christmas carols on our music system and spend time with each other, eating cakes, homemade kalkals or rose cookies and sipping on ginger wine. We ate dinner just before midnight and then watched the midnight mass at St. Paul's Cathedral that was aired live on DD Bangla. Then we would wait for the clock to strike 12 and my father would pray. Soon we, the children, got into bed to wait for Santa Claus. Eventually, we would fall asleep and wake up to the gifts we had wished for on Christmas morning!
Now, on Christmas Eve, we have some very close friends come over and everything else remains the same. We still have the chicken roast that my sister makes ever since my mother passed away. Sadly, there's no Santa giving us what we want.
On Christmas day, we visit the church and then the family goes out to have lunch at Tangra. We have always celebrated Christmas day with my maternal uncle and his family. For some years, we went off for a picnic at Palm Village or some other place after church service. Christmas for us is about coming together and enjoying family time.