Christmas is Coming!

KOCHI: When Parimal Paul, the English teacher at Rajagiri Public School, Kochi, sees a Christmas star hanging in front of a house, she feels a pang of sadness. She is reminded of her late father, Advocate Joseph Katticaran, who passed away nine years ago. "When I was a child, I would always help my father to hang up the stars," she says. "For a daughter, a father is always a hero, and I dearly miss him."Parimal's most memorable Christmas was when instead of making her mother make the food at home, her father brought food from Hotel International. “There were duck, rabbit, and chicken,” she says. “It was a wonderful spread.”For Parimal, Christmas means Jesus Christ's birth, cakes, Santa Claus, carols, and cookies. “Christmas always evokes a sense of nostalgia in me,” she says. “Frequently, I remember events from my childhood. My grandmother would make such delicious dishes during Christmas.”For this year's Christmas, Parimal is having a low-key celebration. “My daughter, Rosita, has her Class 12 examinations in March, 2012,and she's studying hard,” she says. Nevertheless, Parimal will be making a cake, chocolate, instead of the usual plum, because that is what she enjoys making.For Mary George, 10, her most memorable Christmas was when she went to Bangalore last year and spent the season with her uncle, Deepak, and his family. “I met my cousin, Ian, for the first time,” she says. “He was only five months old and was so cute.”On Christmas Day, there were gifts placed under the tree. “I got a board game, Word Scrabble, and I still play it,” she says.  Asked whether Santa Claus had brought the gifts down the chimney and placed it during the night of December 24, Mary laughs and says, “Uncle, could you point out to me where is the chimney? I am 10 years, not two. It is a fairy tale.”Meanwhile, at a 'Yuletide' function, organised by the Kochi branch of the All India Anglo Indian Association at Fort Kochi, three-year-old Chelsea has a happy smile on her face. When asked about what she wanted for Christmas, Chelsea, who is a model for Odyssey shoes, wanted a telephone. The people around asked her whether she meant a mobile. Chelsea made it clear that it was a telephone. “I want one to chat with my friends, Tiana and Catherine,” she says.Seven-year-old Elisa, who studies at the Seventh Day Adventist School, began her Christmas celebrations with a visit to the 'Wonder la' amusement park. “I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she says.On Christmas Day, Elisa says, she will have a difficult time to get up in the morning. “That is because we will be attending the midnight mass,” she says. Her father has invited their neighbour, Nair and his family for breakfast. “Then we will have lunch with the family,” says Elisa. “Mother has promised us cutlets, fish molly and special caramel custard.” In the afternoon, she plans to chitchat with her cousins, while window shopping at the malls is the agenda for the evening. “I will have pizza from Food Circle at Oberon Mall with my cousins,” she says.As for teenager, Beverly, she has plans to go carol singing on December 22, and will be taking part in games and crib-making competitions organised by the church. “On December 24, I will be going out with my friends,” she says. “But on Christmas Day, I would like to spend it with my family.” featureskochi@ ewindianexpress.com