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Very Christmas #7
Indian Christmas: An Anthology
Few countries celebrate religious and cultural festivals with greater passion, imagination and joy than India. And among the many festivals of this gloriously diverse, multicultural nation is Christmas-the night that Jesus came to earth, bringing with him the all-embracing 'fragrance of Love'.
The Christian communities of India celebrate the birth of Christ with food, music, lights, prayer, family gatherings, charity and other age-old traditions, some of which have evolved over almost two millennia. And for centuries, other communities have also participated in the celebration of this Indian festival-its cheer and spirit of love as resilient, even in times of division, as India itself.
This anthology captures the distinctive magic of Christmas in India. Edited and with introductions by two of India's finest writers, Jerry Pinto and Madhulika Liddle, it is a splendid collection of essays, images, poems and hymns-both in English and translated from India's other languages-which showcase the variety of Christmas celebrations across the country. Damodar Mauzo, Vivek Menezes, Easterine Kire, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Jane Borges and Mary Sushma Kindo, among others, write about Christmas traditions and celebrations in Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Shillong and rural Jharkhand. Arul Cellaturai writes tender poems in the Pillaitamil tradition to the moon about Baby Jesus, and Punjabi singers compose tappe-boliyan about Mary and her infant. There are Mughal miniatures depicting the birth of Jesus, and paintings by Jyoti Sahi and Sister Marie Claire inspired by folk art. And photographers from near and far capture images of Christmas time in Aizawl, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. Charming family traditions, 'chutnified' Christmas lunches and dinners, quintessentially Indian versions of Christmas decorations and rituals-all find a place in the pages of Indian Christmas, a first-of-its-kind collection that pays tribute to a great Indian festival. It is a unique and beautiful book to possess and to gift.
The Christian communities of India celebrate the birth of Christ with food, music, lights, prayer, family gatherings, charity and other age-old traditions, some of which have evolved over almost two millennia. And for centuries, other communities have also participated in the celebration of this Indian festival-its cheer and spirit of love as resilient, even in times of division, as India itself.
This anthology captures the distinctive magic of Christmas in India. Edited and with introductions by two of India's finest writers, Jerry Pinto and Madhulika Liddle, it is a splendid collection of essays, images, poems and hymns-both in English and translated from India's other languages-which showcase the variety of Christmas celebrations across the country. Damodar Mauzo, Vivek Menezes, Easterine Kire, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Jane Borges and Mary Sushma Kindo, among others, write about Christmas traditions and celebrations in Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Shillong and rural Jharkhand. Arul Cellaturai writes tender poems in the Pillaitamil tradition to the moon about Baby Jesus, and Punjabi singers compose tappe-boliyan about Mary and her infant. There are Mughal miniatures depicting the birth of Jesus, and paintings by Jyoti Sahi and Sister Marie Claire inspired by folk art. And photographers from near and far capture images of Christmas time in Aizawl, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. Charming family traditions, 'chutnified' Christmas lunches and dinners, quintessentially Indian versions of Christmas decorations and rituals-all find a place in the pages of Indian Christmas, a first-of-its-kind collection that pays tribute to a great Indian festival. It is a unique and beautiful book to possess and to gift.
- GenresChristmasAnthologies
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2022
8 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pinto
78 books369 followersJerry Pinto is a Mumbai-based Indian writer of poetry, prose and children's fiction in English, as well as a journalist. His noted works include, Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006) which won the Best Book on Cinema Award at the 54th National Film Awards, Surviving Women (2000) and Asylum and Other Poems (2003). His first novel Em and The Big Hoom was published in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 25, 2024
In a Nutshell: An essay collection containing various memories and accounts of Christmas celebrations in India. Writers from diverse backgrounds, stories from across the country, celebrations from varied financial and cultural strata. The essays themselves are a mixed bag, but on the whole it offers a good glimpse of that strange medley of humans known as “Indian Christians” and how they celebrate this special day.
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(This will be an even longer review than usual – Sorry! But I have a strong personal connect with this theme, so I can’t hold back.)
As an Indian Christian, I have often been at the receiving end of befuddling reactions from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues throughout my life. Astonishment on learning that I watch Bollywood movies and know plenty of Hindi songs, shock that I am a teetotaller (“I thought all Christians drink!”), suspicion that I have “converted” to Christianity after marriage ('Coz my name ain’t a “Catholic” name!), confusion that I wear sarees and salwar-kurtas more often than I wear dresses (“Why do you go to church in Indian wear?”) From “You don't sound/look Christian” to “You don't behave like a Christian”, I have heard it all. But the one that hurt the most was one colleague announcing, “You seem more Indian than Christian!” All of this makes me wonder if anyone really knows this group of people who are called "Indian Christians." I can understand outsiders not knowing about Christians in India, but when even fellow citizens question us, it makes me feel like a misfit. An outsider. An anomaly.
That's why I HAD to get this book! Non-Indians think we aren't Christian enough, and non-Christian Indians think we aren't Indian enough. If this book could throw some light on at least a part of what Christianity in India entails, and educate people on how we are as Indian as we are Christian, it would serve its purpose.
Christians are just about 2.3% of India's population, but in a country with upwards of 1.4 billion people, the actual number turns out to be quite large: 28 million citizens. Like every other religion in India, Indian Christianity has no standardised version. There are many subsets in this category, with distinctness not just in denomination but also in the approach to faith and festivals. But one thing that is common to most of us is that we have incorporated many traditional Indian (usually but not necessarily Hindu) rituals and practices into our celebrations. As writer-editor Madhulika Liddle puts it: "This is India... a land where, instead of wholesale and mindless importing of Christmas ideas, we've been discerning. Where we bring in all our favourite (and familiar) ideas of what a celebration should be and fit them together into a fiesta all our own."
This essay collection was first published in India in 2022 under the title "Indian Christmas: Essays, Memories, Hymns". This latest edition, published in the USA in September 2024, has been slightly modified and expanded to include additional pieces by Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Khushwant Singh, and Aravind Adiga. (Don’t get too excited about this: two of these four new entries are just excerpts from already-published novels.)
This collection contains twenty essays, three excerpts, two poems, and one prayer song. (The caption for the song mentions that it has been arranged for choir, but there's no clue of where to find the sheet music. I'd have loved to try that bilingual carol with my choir.) The contributors, not all of whom are authors, come from various parts of the country and from various class backgrounds (elites as well as tribals well-represented) and Christian denominations. Some of the writers are non-Catholic, with their essays demonstrating the erstwhile pluralistic attitude of the country.
Christmas in India, in general, has “considerably less glitter and a lot more joie de vivre” as compared to Christmas in the Western countries. Many of the essays contain the writers’ personal memories of Christmas. Whether celebrated in their family or not, each of them has at least a few nostalgic anecdotes about family get-togethers, community celebrations in the neighbourhood, and Christmas food, especially the scrumptious lunches and the Indo-western festive sweets. As you might guess, many of the essays made me hungry! Anupama Raju’s essay contains a yummy-sounding recipe for Pork Vindalee, which I am definitely going to try. I wish some more recipes had been included.
Did the book put me in the right mood for Christmas? Not really! Because I was already in a Christmassy mood. What this book did is to make me appreciate the beauty and diversity of my country, and of the way in which my fellow Indian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus differently across the nation.
How effective will this book be for Westerners? In all honesty, I doubt they will perceive it the same way I did. It was easier for me to picture the components of the ‘kuswar’ such as dodol, nevrio, rose cookies, perad, and many more. I could also visualise the locations and the people without difficulty. Without this clear imagery in your mind, all you would be doing is reading some “strange”-sounding words about some “funny-sounding” locations. Most of the essays would work better for Indians, regardless of religion.
I read the US edition, with the below cover art.
This looks so lacklustre and boring that I have posted my review against the cover of the Indian edition. It is so much more desi and Christmassy! I am also unhappy with the tagline of the US edition: “The Greatest Indian Holiday Stories of All Time.” This makes the book sound like a fictional story collection, which it absolutely isn’t. And a final complaint regarding another edition-related variation: The Indian edition includes actual photographs. Why are photos missing from the US version? I hope this is only because I had the ARC, though I see no provision for the insertion of photographs.
As always, I rated every essay individually. I didn’t rate the excerpts and the poems/hymns as the former would be inaccurate and the latter, beyond my interest. Of the twenty essays, a majority rated around the midway mark, but a few really moved me. Here are my favourites with 4+ stars.
All in all, while I do wish that this had averaged higher for me, I still appreciate the richness and diversity of this one-of-a-kind collection. It was a treat to find an Indian book that made me feel seen and heard.
Recommended to Indian Christians that they might see a reflection of themselves in some of the essays here, and to Non-Christian Indians that they might learn more about their fellow citizens. I don’t know whether to recommend this to the average US reader, but if you are open-minded about learning more about Christianity in India, why not?
3.65 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the essay entries of this book.
My thanks to New Vessel Press for providing the DRC of “A Very Indian Christmas” via Edelweiss+. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
A Merry Christmas to one and all of my friends! Here’s to love, peace, and unity in India and throughout the world! 💖
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(This will be an even longer review than usual – Sorry! But I have a strong personal connect with this theme, so I can’t hold back.)
As an Indian Christian, I have often been at the receiving end of befuddling reactions from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues throughout my life. Astonishment on learning that I watch Bollywood movies and know plenty of Hindi songs, shock that I am a teetotaller (“I thought all Christians drink!”), suspicion that I have “converted” to Christianity after marriage ('Coz my name ain’t a “Catholic” name!), confusion that I wear sarees and salwar-kurtas more often than I wear dresses (“Why do you go to church in Indian wear?”) From “You don't sound/look Christian” to “You don't behave like a Christian”, I have heard it all. But the one that hurt the most was one colleague announcing, “You seem more Indian than Christian!” All of this makes me wonder if anyone really knows this group of people who are called "Indian Christians." I can understand outsiders not knowing about Christians in India, but when even fellow citizens question us, it makes me feel like a misfit. An outsider. An anomaly.
That's why I HAD to get this book! Non-Indians think we aren't Christian enough, and non-Christian Indians think we aren't Indian enough. If this book could throw some light on at least a part of what Christianity in India entails, and educate people on how we are as Indian as we are Christian, it would serve its purpose.
Christians are just about 2.3% of India's population, but in a country with upwards of 1.4 billion people, the actual number turns out to be quite large: 28 million citizens. Like every other religion in India, Indian Christianity has no standardised version. There are many subsets in this category, with distinctness not just in denomination but also in the approach to faith and festivals. But one thing that is common to most of us is that we have incorporated many traditional Indian (usually but not necessarily Hindu) rituals and practices into our celebrations. As writer-editor Madhulika Liddle puts it: "This is India... a land where, instead of wholesale and mindless importing of Christmas ideas, we've been discerning. Where we bring in all our favourite (and familiar) ideas of what a celebration should be and fit them together into a fiesta all our own."
This essay collection was first published in India in 2022 under the title "Indian Christmas: Essays, Memories, Hymns". This latest edition, published in the USA in September 2024, has been slightly modified and expanded to include additional pieces by Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Khushwant Singh, and Aravind Adiga. (Don’t get too excited about this: two of these four new entries are just excerpts from already-published novels.)
This collection contains twenty essays, three excerpts, two poems, and one prayer song. (The caption for the song mentions that it has been arranged for choir, but there's no clue of where to find the sheet music. I'd have loved to try that bilingual carol with my choir.) The contributors, not all of whom are authors, come from various parts of the country and from various class backgrounds (elites as well as tribals well-represented) and Christian denominations. Some of the writers are non-Catholic, with their essays demonstrating the erstwhile pluralistic attitude of the country.
Christmas in India, in general, has “considerably less glitter and a lot more joie de vivre” as compared to Christmas in the Western countries. Many of the essays contain the writers’ personal memories of Christmas. Whether celebrated in their family or not, each of them has at least a few nostalgic anecdotes about family get-togethers, community celebrations in the neighbourhood, and Christmas food, especially the scrumptious lunches and the Indo-western festive sweets. As you might guess, many of the essays made me hungry! Anupama Raju’s essay contains a yummy-sounding recipe for Pork Vindalee, which I am definitely going to try. I wish some more recipes had been included.
Did the book put me in the right mood for Christmas? Not really! Because I was already in a Christmassy mood. What this book did is to make me appreciate the beauty and diversity of my country, and of the way in which my fellow Indian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus differently across the nation.
How effective will this book be for Westerners? In all honesty, I doubt they will perceive it the same way I did. It was easier for me to picture the components of the ‘kuswar’ such as dodol, nevrio, rose cookies, perad, and many more. I could also visualise the locations and the people without difficulty. Without this clear imagery in your mind, all you would be doing is reading some “strange”-sounding words about some “funny-sounding” locations. Most of the essays would work better for Indians, regardless of religion.
I read the US edition, with the below cover art.
This looks so lacklustre and boring that I have posted my review against the cover of the Indian edition. It is so much more desi and Christmassy! I am also unhappy with the tagline of the US edition: “The Greatest Indian Holiday Stories of All Time.” This makes the book sound like a fictional story collection, which it absolutely isn’t. And a final complaint regarding another edition-related variation: The Indian edition includes actual photographs. Why are photos missing from the US version? I hope this is only because I had the ARC, though I see no provision for the insertion of photographs.
As always, I rated every essay individually. I didn’t rate the excerpts and the poems/hymns as the former would be inaccurate and the latter, beyond my interest. Of the twenty essays, a majority rated around the midway mark, but a few really moved me. Here are my favourites with 4+ stars.
🎄 Unto All of Us a Child is Born - Jerry Pinto: Fellow Mumbaikar Jerry Pinto's essay resonated with me every step of the way. It is written in his trademark tongue-in-cheek humour covering the whole story of the birth of Jesus The only point on which I firmly disagree with him is that rose cookies (‘kokisan’ as we call them in Konkani) aren't plate fillers; I love them! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎄 Christmas in Many Flavours - Madhulika Liddle: Isn’t it a good sign when both the editors of this book made it to my favourites? Liddle’s essay touched my heart (and stomach) so much! It brought out the beauty and the variety of an "Indian" Christmas. I would have rated it higher had it not seemed so much like a Wiki entry at times with multiple lengthy lists. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎄 Cake ki Roti at Dua Ka Ghar - Madhulika Liddle: Another winner by the co-editor. I loved the content, but disliked the randomness of the narrative. A bit of structure would have made this an easy five star for me, given how much its points connected with me, especially the one about the distorted idea that non-Christian Indians have about us Christian Indians. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎄 I'm Dreaming of a Goan Christmas - Vivek Menezes: A beautiful essay touching upon how truly multicultural the Indian community is, and how the communal elements are threatening this harmony across religions. Poignant and supported by historical data. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🎄 In Search of an East Indian Christmas in Mumbai - Deborah Rosario: The perfect mixture of customs, information, nostalgia, and insight. If even half of the essays had been this good, this book would have crossed over a 4.5 stars average. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎄 Did Your First Christmas Cake Come Out of an Ammunition Box Too? - Easterine Kire: Loved this because it made me aware of a practice I had never heard about. A perfect representation of the innovative Indian “jugaad”. I cut half a star only because it didn't tell me WHERE this happened! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🎄 A Village Christmas - Damodar Mauzo: Konkani is my ‘mother tongue’, the language of my parents and the language in which I speak to my kids. But as it is one of the less-spoken languages in India, there are very few Konkani writers who hit the big league in regional fiction. As such, this Jnanpith Award-winning Konkani writer (The Jnanpith Award is India's highest literary honour) has been on my reading radar since a long time. My first experience of Damodar Mauzo’s writing showed me why he is so acclaimed. There’s such a down-to-earth beauty and passion in his words! This essay, translated to English by Jerry Pinto, is a nostalgic account of a harmonious celebration of all festivals in a Goan village, and contains an important message for all those who seek to divide us based on religion. This line gave me goosebumps: “When people call Majorda a Christian village, it angers me. Does a village have a religion? Can a village have a religion?” A easy five-star, even if it weren’t for my Konkani bias. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎄 How India's Pluralistic Past Shows the Way Forward - Manimugdha S. Sharma: This will be an eye-opening write-up to many who believe the Bollywood and political version of Indian Christianity. (Contrary to common misconception, Christianity came here not with the colonial powers but through Apostle Thomas – aka “Doubting Thomas” – in 52 CE.) Loved the history and the focus on our historical unity across religions. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
All in all, while I do wish that this had averaged higher for me, I still appreciate the richness and diversity of this one-of-a-kind collection. It was a treat to find an Indian book that made me feel seen and heard.
Recommended to Indian Christians that they might see a reflection of themselves in some of the essays here, and to Non-Christian Indians that they might learn more about their fellow citizens. I don’t know whether to recommend this to the average US reader, but if you are open-minded about learning more about Christianity in India, why not?
3.65 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the essay entries of this book.
My thanks to New Vessel Press for providing the DRC of “A Very Indian Christmas” via Edelweiss+. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
A Merry Christmas to one and all of my friends! Here’s to love, peace, and unity in India and throughout the world! 💖
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 17, 2022
'Indian Christmas' edited by Jerry Pinto & Madhulika Liddle is a must read for the Christmas season. It is a cheerful seasonal book about the relevance of Christmas in India & the many ways in which it is celebrated not only by the Christian community but also other religious communities in India. Thus, it brings to mind the fact that Christmas is a gift of love which unifies rather than divides communities. From Punjabi matriarchs to Allahabad resident Muslims; from tribal animists to rich Parsee eccentrics; from Syrian Christians to famous Goan artists, everyone has their own unique way of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The book is an extremely light read which is perfect for a weekend read. It is well edited & contains a number of colorful photographs, paintings, pictures etc., related to the main content. 'Indian Christmas' is divided into a series of essays penned by a number of talented individuals from various parts of India who have their own traditions & customs regarding the Christmas season. The essays are very entertaining, varied & in the form of mini-memoirs. There are a lot of Christmas recipes mentioned in the text which makes the book mouth-wateringly delicious. The mentioning of various odd Christmas Indian dishes like Christmas chicken biryani of Allahabad, Konkan vindaloo, rumless Christmas cake for North Indian Muslims, cake ki roti of the Christians of yesteryear etc., along with numerous other treats are simply appetizing to read & savor. The book touches upon the preparations before Christmas in different parts of India, Christmas dance party memories, Advent festivals etc., which makes very interesting reading. Some of my favorites were about the practices of Syrian Christians during this season & the way once Santa Claus came to a Christmas party seated upon an elephant! The book is perfect for gifting during this time of the year. It can prove a splendid gift to a non-Christian friend or family member as the theology related to the season is not at all heavily touched upon. 'Indian Christmas' is basically a fun read but at the same time can create nostalgia especially for the those Indians who have lived a greater part of their lives in the 20th century. Jerry Pinto's introductory statement is wonderful & heartening to read which makes a wonderful start to the book. Pre-teens & teenagers will also find this book a wonderful read to the rich cultural heritage of Christmas celebrations in India. Let's not forget that even the regular Catholic & Protestant Christian recipes, kolam designs, Mass preparations, sweets & savories, carols, decorations, artwork etc., are not excluded from the book. Among the essayists I especially found well known journalist & bestselling writer Jane Borges' piece to be highly entertaining & timely for those of us who are in our late 20's & early 30's. A book worth your money & time; spread the joy of Christmas with Speaking Tiger's 'Indian Christmas: An Anthology'. The book gets 5 stars from me. Kudos to the essayists & the editors on a job well done!
December 18, 2022
While I do have a contribution (and more) in this anthology, the rest of the book has been written (or drawn, or sung, or spoken, so to say) by many other people, so I’m happy to give this a five-star rating for what it is outside of my own essay and introduction.
The essay I wrote for Indian Christmas, Cake ki Roti at Dua ka Ghar, is all about my memories of Christmases from when I was growing up: the spice-scented, fruit-filled cake; the biscuity cake ki roti, which was a byproduct of large-scale cake baking at the local baker's; the Hindi and Punjabi Christmas carols; the home-made but much-loved Christmas decorations we crafted out of crepe paper, cotton wool and tinsel. In my introduction to the book, I discussed Christmas beyond just what I have experienced: Christmas in the many and varied ways in which it is celebrated across India.
And this, the diversity of Christmas celebrations in different parts of the country, is what comes through most vividly in Indian Christmas. Some of India's finest writers, form Jerry Pinto to Easterine Kire, from Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar to Rabindranath Tagore, are represented here. There are reminiscences about Christmas from far and wide: a description, for instance, of the celebrations at Bow Barracks in Kolkata; a Syrian Christian Christmas; a community Christmas in a rice-growing Naga village in the highlands of Manipur. Easterine Kire remembers her mother and her contemporaries baking Christmas cakes in old war-era ammunition boxes; Anupama Raju provides a mouthwatering recipe for what her family refers to as a 'vindalee', their own take on the quintessential vindaloo.
There are amusing anecdotes, there are poems. There are Punjabi tappe-boliyaan about Christmas, and lots of photographs of Christmas in its many forms across India, from little children dressed as Santa Claus, being ferried to school in a rickshaw in Fazilka; to the exquisite street decorations in Aizawl; from a wonderfully traditional set of crib figurines bought by Jerry Pinto in Ranchi, to photos of carollers and worshippers in the Garo Hills, Jharkhand, Kerala, Kolkata
While I loved the many insights into Christmas celebrations—so many of them similar to my own, yet so many different, too—what also proved really heartwarming was the lesson of syncretism and communal harmony that comes through so strongly in many of the essays. It's not as if Indian Christmas is a dhobi list of a bunch of Indian Christians writing about their festival; there are plenty of people here, like Rabindranath Tagore, Damodar Mauzo and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, who are not Christian but who have wonderful insights to offer into their relationships with Christmas.
To me, reading Indian Christmas was like being at a Christmas get-together: a warm, friendly place, with happy faces around, people sharing joy and good memories.
The essay I wrote for Indian Christmas, Cake ki Roti at Dua ka Ghar, is all about my memories of Christmases from when I was growing up: the spice-scented, fruit-filled cake; the biscuity cake ki roti, which was a byproduct of large-scale cake baking at the local baker's; the Hindi and Punjabi Christmas carols; the home-made but much-loved Christmas decorations we crafted out of crepe paper, cotton wool and tinsel. In my introduction to the book, I discussed Christmas beyond just what I have experienced: Christmas in the many and varied ways in which it is celebrated across India.
And this, the diversity of Christmas celebrations in different parts of the country, is what comes through most vividly in Indian Christmas. Some of India's finest writers, form Jerry Pinto to Easterine Kire, from Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar to Rabindranath Tagore, are represented here. There are reminiscences about Christmas from far and wide: a description, for instance, of the celebrations at Bow Barracks in Kolkata; a Syrian Christian Christmas; a community Christmas in a rice-growing Naga village in the highlands of Manipur. Easterine Kire remembers her mother and her contemporaries baking Christmas cakes in old war-era ammunition boxes; Anupama Raju provides a mouthwatering recipe for what her family refers to as a 'vindalee', their own take on the quintessential vindaloo.
There are amusing anecdotes, there are poems. There are Punjabi tappe-boliyaan about Christmas, and lots of photographs of Christmas in its many forms across India, from little children dressed as Santa Claus, being ferried to school in a rickshaw in Fazilka; to the exquisite street decorations in Aizawl; from a wonderfully traditional set of crib figurines bought by Jerry Pinto in Ranchi, to photos of carollers and worshippers in the Garo Hills, Jharkhand, Kerala, Kolkata
While I loved the many insights into Christmas celebrations—so many of them similar to my own, yet so many different, too—what also proved really heartwarming was the lesson of syncretism and communal harmony that comes through so strongly in many of the essays. It's not as if Indian Christmas is a dhobi list of a bunch of Indian Christians writing about their festival; there are plenty of people here, like Rabindranath Tagore, Damodar Mauzo and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, who are not Christian but who have wonderful insights to offer into their relationships with Christmas.
To me, reading Indian Christmas was like being at a Christmas get-together: a warm, friendly place, with happy faces around, people sharing joy and good memories.
December 18, 2022
the perfect festive read. reminds you of India's pluralism and how it has been upheld by festivals and celebrations.
December 8, 2024
Nostalgic stories of how Christmas celebrations have changed over the years in India. Also, its rick in description of how the festival is celebrated in all places, big cities to small villages in tribal areas.
January 17, 2026
This book consisted of a series of essays on the subject of Christmas as it is celebrated in India. I would have loved to contribute to this collection. If there is another edition, I hope the editors reach out to me.
Unto All of Us a Child Is Born by Jerry Pinto: I could totally relate to this essay. Jerry spoke about the lack of snow in Bombay at Christmas and how we aspired to have snow because that is what we saw in Christmas cards and films. Older people talked about Jim Reeves; he was the cornerstone of secular Christmas music. Jerry also spoke about the crass commercialism that Christmas has been reduced to, and reminded us that Christ and his family were migrants, relating the fact to His teaching, Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me.
Jerry highlighted the fact of Jesus’ Birth, and related it to the title, Unto All of Us a Child Is Born. That single word, All, makes us all party to the great miracle, and invites the least of us to partake in the message of joy, hope, peace and love.
This was by far my favourite among the essays. Jerry’s essay reminds us of the reason for the season, which often gets lost amid the commercialisation of Christmas. This was also the only essay that referenced what it means to be an Indian Christian.
Christmas in Many Flavors by Madhulika Liddle describes the diverse ways in which Christmas is celebrated in India, in terms of foods, sweets, snacks, songs and décor, as also the diversity of religious (as per the different denominations of Christianity) and secular celebrations. As she says, “We adopted the faith, but reserved for ourselves the right to decide how we’d celebrate its festivals.”
The Child by Rabindranath Tagore: This lyrical poem contains the last two sections of one of Tagore’s finest long poems, inspired by the life of Jesus Christ. The poem roots the Nativity amid the rhythms and struggles of Indian rural life.
In the Spirit by Salman Rushdie: As an atheist Muslim, neither Rushdie nor his family celebrated Christmas. But Christmas entered his life several times in other ways.
At Midnight the Shepherds Saw the Light (Author Unknown) was a poem translated from Hindi. We read the original Hindi and the English translation and, in both languages, the words ‘Aadhi raat’ and midnight, repeated several times, are soothing and affirming.
Cake ki Roti at Dua ka Ghar by Madhulika Liddle: Here the author tells the true story of her own surname and how it came to be. Dua ka ghar (house of prayer) was the name of the author’s family home, built by her grandfather. This recollection was warm and fuzzy. The author shares her childhood memories and reiterates a point I believe: that Christmas and Christianity are not Western constructs. They belong to Indian Christians as much as to any believer.
The Sunset Club by Khushwant Singh: This excerpt takes us into the lives of the Hindu Mr Sharma, the Sikh Boota and the Muslim Baigs. Later in the excerpt, Begum Baig points out that Christians make merry but don’t go to church to give thanks to their Maker. I enjoy reading Khushwant Singh, but the Christmas reference here was incidental.
A Merry Vindalee to You by Anupama Raju: The author gives us the story of Vindalee, the Keralite version of the Goan-Portuguese Vindaloo, and her mother’s recipe. A Christmas Wedding in Kottayam by Elizabeth Kuruvilla: The narrator and her husband, on a road trip on their Enfield from Delhi to Kerala, are now in Kottayam, her hometown, to attend their reception. Both these stories were fuelled by nostalgia, but they were more about food than about Christmas.
I’m Dreaming of a Goan Christmas by Vivek Menezes makes a reference not only to the sweets, but also to what Christmas means to Catholics and those of other faiths in Goa. I liked this essay.
Nothing Compares to the Joys of a Village by Mary Sushma Kindo (Translated from Hindi by Renuka Chatterjee) was a lovely eye-opener to how Christmas is celebrated in small villages in the Hindi heartland. They don’t have enough but manage to mark the day with joy.
My Memories of Christmas by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar also talks about Christmas in her childhood, when she was fascinated by the festival, but from a non-Christian perspective. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: The excerpt shows a Bengali family in the US beginning a Christmas tradition.
In Search of an East Indian Christmas in Mumbai by Debbie Rosario describes the tradition of Christmas celebrations that she witnessed when she was young.
Did Your First Christmas Cake Come out of an Ammunition Box Too? By Easterine Kire was interesting. Santa Comes in a Rickshaw—Christmas in Bow Barracks by Nazes Afroz was too short and ended abruptly. I would have liked to read more. Christmas in the Moon Place by Veio Pou was a lovely depiction of life in a small Christian village in Manipur around Christmas.
Yuletides of Yore by Minoo Avari was a recounting of several Christmas memories, one of which was the 28th birthday celebration of her mother, which coincided with Christmas.
In A Village Christmas by Damodar Mauzo (Translated from Konkani by Jerry Pinto), the author talks about the Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Christmas being his favourite festivals, and links these favourites to the strong secular fabric of his village.
How India’s Pluralistic Past Shows the Way Forward by Manimugdha S Sharma: Here the writer talks about festivals in general, and Christmas in particular, and mourns the fact that India’s pluralism is on the decline.
Armenia Christmas Food in Calcutta by Mohona Kanjilal is a detailed description of the title.
In Christmas Memories of a Family by Nivedita Mishra, the writer, born and raised in a multi-cultural multi-religious family, tells us that she is not very religious, but that she does have a strong faith in God and that her faith is rewarded one Christmas. This was another one of my favourite essays in this collection.
Last Christmas in Bandra by Aravind Adiga was a random unrelated recollection of a judge. Christmas was only incidental here.
Christmas Carols Punjabi Style (Translated from Punjabi by Nirupama Dutt: There is no mention of the writer’s name.
Made in India and All of That by Nilima Das is a charming account of the childhood of a woman of mixed parentage who received the best of both worlds.
A Christmas Prayer—Words and Music by Alfred J D’Souza; Arranged for choir by Leon D’Souza
Most of the essays were about the secular nature of Christmas and the celebrations, rather than any affirmations of faith. This collection can be read by anyone who misses the secular appeal of Christmas.
I loved the beautiful cover of the Holy Family in Indian garb.
Unto All of Us a Child Is Born by Jerry Pinto: I could totally relate to this essay. Jerry spoke about the lack of snow in Bombay at Christmas and how we aspired to have snow because that is what we saw in Christmas cards and films. Older people talked about Jim Reeves; he was the cornerstone of secular Christmas music. Jerry also spoke about the crass commercialism that Christmas has been reduced to, and reminded us that Christ and his family were migrants, relating the fact to His teaching, Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me.
Jerry highlighted the fact of Jesus’ Birth, and related it to the title, Unto All of Us a Child Is Born. That single word, All, makes us all party to the great miracle, and invites the least of us to partake in the message of joy, hope, peace and love.
This was by far my favourite among the essays. Jerry’s essay reminds us of the reason for the season, which often gets lost amid the commercialisation of Christmas. This was also the only essay that referenced what it means to be an Indian Christian.
Christmas in Many Flavors by Madhulika Liddle describes the diverse ways in which Christmas is celebrated in India, in terms of foods, sweets, snacks, songs and décor, as also the diversity of religious (as per the different denominations of Christianity) and secular celebrations. As she says, “We adopted the faith, but reserved for ourselves the right to decide how we’d celebrate its festivals.”
The Child by Rabindranath Tagore: This lyrical poem contains the last two sections of one of Tagore’s finest long poems, inspired by the life of Jesus Christ. The poem roots the Nativity amid the rhythms and struggles of Indian rural life.
In the Spirit by Salman Rushdie: As an atheist Muslim, neither Rushdie nor his family celebrated Christmas. But Christmas entered his life several times in other ways.
At Midnight the Shepherds Saw the Light (Author Unknown) was a poem translated from Hindi. We read the original Hindi and the English translation and, in both languages, the words ‘Aadhi raat’ and midnight, repeated several times, are soothing and affirming.
Cake ki Roti at Dua ka Ghar by Madhulika Liddle: Here the author tells the true story of her own surname and how it came to be. Dua ka ghar (house of prayer) was the name of the author’s family home, built by her grandfather. This recollection was warm and fuzzy. The author shares her childhood memories and reiterates a point I believe: that Christmas and Christianity are not Western constructs. They belong to Indian Christians as much as to any believer.
The Sunset Club by Khushwant Singh: This excerpt takes us into the lives of the Hindu Mr Sharma, the Sikh Boota and the Muslim Baigs. Later in the excerpt, Begum Baig points out that Christians make merry but don’t go to church to give thanks to their Maker. I enjoy reading Khushwant Singh, but the Christmas reference here was incidental.
A Merry Vindalee to You by Anupama Raju: The author gives us the story of Vindalee, the Keralite version of the Goan-Portuguese Vindaloo, and her mother’s recipe. A Christmas Wedding in Kottayam by Elizabeth Kuruvilla: The narrator and her husband, on a road trip on their Enfield from Delhi to Kerala, are now in Kottayam, her hometown, to attend their reception. Both these stories were fuelled by nostalgia, but they were more about food than about Christmas.
I’m Dreaming of a Goan Christmas by Vivek Menezes makes a reference not only to the sweets, but also to what Christmas means to Catholics and those of other faiths in Goa. I liked this essay.
Nothing Compares to the Joys of a Village by Mary Sushma Kindo (Translated from Hindi by Renuka Chatterjee) was a lovely eye-opener to how Christmas is celebrated in small villages in the Hindi heartland. They don’t have enough but manage to mark the day with joy.
My Memories of Christmas by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar also talks about Christmas in her childhood, when she was fascinated by the festival, but from a non-Christian perspective. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: The excerpt shows a Bengali family in the US beginning a Christmas tradition.
In Search of an East Indian Christmas in Mumbai by Debbie Rosario describes the tradition of Christmas celebrations that she witnessed when she was young.
Did Your First Christmas Cake Come out of an Ammunition Box Too? By Easterine Kire was interesting. Santa Comes in a Rickshaw—Christmas in Bow Barracks by Nazes Afroz was too short and ended abruptly. I would have liked to read more. Christmas in the Moon Place by Veio Pou was a lovely depiction of life in a small Christian village in Manipur around Christmas.
Yuletides of Yore by Minoo Avari was a recounting of several Christmas memories, one of which was the 28th birthday celebration of her mother, which coincided with Christmas.
In A Village Christmas by Damodar Mauzo (Translated from Konkani by Jerry Pinto), the author talks about the Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Christmas being his favourite festivals, and links these favourites to the strong secular fabric of his village.
How India’s Pluralistic Past Shows the Way Forward by Manimugdha S Sharma: Here the writer talks about festivals in general, and Christmas in particular, and mourns the fact that India’s pluralism is on the decline.
Armenia Christmas Food in Calcutta by Mohona Kanjilal is a detailed description of the title.
In Christmas Memories of a Family by Nivedita Mishra, the writer, born and raised in a multi-cultural multi-religious family, tells us that she is not very religious, but that she does have a strong faith in God and that her faith is rewarded one Christmas. This was another one of my favourite essays in this collection.
Last Christmas in Bandra by Aravind Adiga was a random unrelated recollection of a judge. Christmas was only incidental here.
Christmas Carols Punjabi Style (Translated from Punjabi by Nirupama Dutt: There is no mention of the writer’s name.
Made in India and All of That by Nilima Das is a charming account of the childhood of a woman of mixed parentage who received the best of both worlds.
A Christmas Prayer—Words and Music by Alfred J D’Souza; Arranged for choir by Leon D’Souza
Most of the essays were about the secular nature of Christmas and the celebrations, rather than any affirmations of faith. This collection can be read by anyone who misses the secular appeal of Christmas.
I loved the beautiful cover of the Holy Family in Indian garb.
December 30, 2023
A much-needed book in this day & age, which breaks the narrow, Westernized stereotypes of Christmas made worse by Bollywood and popular media and shows how diversely it has been Indianized across the nation.
Through essays, memoirs, hymns, photographs & artwork, various contributors from different states & walks of life, narrate how they celebrate Christmas in their own ways. Food is one of the most important benchmarks of any community’s customs. And the diversity of Christmas food described in this book is mind-boggling as well as deliciously tempting. From the most obvious rum cakes & chicken roasts (perhaps the only Christmas food if one goes by popular media), to the more localized variants like cakes with pethas, “cake ki roti”, kebabs, chicken & mutton curries of Kerala, avial, kulkuls (or khajur), arsa etc; one drives home the fact that Christmas isn’t mere Westernization, but a fond assimilation of yet another religion by much older communities of a nation with an even older heritage.
I went down my own memory lane as I read of trivial instances like strictly following all proportions of cake ingredients to the T, assigning a male member to mix the cake batter (because of sheer strength required), a grandma being particular that the batter be mixed clockwise only, eating more dry fruits than chopping them, scrutinizing all cakes & goodies received from friends & family, communal feasts, wandering door to door singing carols, spending so much time cooking food & goodies that one could actually go to Church on either 24th or 25th (because one has to host guests or visit others too!)
I also loved the selection of contributors who come from all 4 corners of the country. If there’re the obvious Anglo Indians, Keralians & Goans, there’re also people from Punjab, UP, Jharkhand & the Northeast. There are also people from multireligious families. I was surprised to read carols & Christmas themed poetry in Tamil & Punjabi. If some contributors are renowned writers, many come from other professions. It was heartening to read a memoir by a maid from Jharkhand.
I was slightly appalled by how most authors reminisced about Christmas trees & Santa Claus; it probably only shows just how deeply commercialization has ensnared all festivals. But I was also pleased to find a few essays depicting the history of Christianity in India: St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus who came to India and was the first person to bring Christianity to the country in AD 52; Jesuits & other Christians visiting Emperor Akbar (the proof of which is historical documents and Mughal painting the nativity scene).
Oh! Besides food, art is yet another reflector of any community’s culture & history. This book has many interesting photographs of paintings depicting nativity scenes in Indian styles: Mary in saris depicted as an Indian woman, even an “Adivasi Madonna” in “lal padia” (white with red patterns & borders) sari!
My only tiny peeve is that many contributors come from quite elite backgrounds which resulted in a still somewhat westernized tinge to this anthology, which goes against the purpose of this books. Maybe, a collaboration between established writers, cultural experts & common people would have created a more interesting & enlightening book which would have shown the Indianization of Christmas at a deeper level.
Nevertheless, the book is a delight to read. PS: Please keep a cake handy while reading it. Or maybe a kaju katli or any other favourite festive snack or goodies.
Through essays, memoirs, hymns, photographs & artwork, various contributors from different states & walks of life, narrate how they celebrate Christmas in their own ways. Food is one of the most important benchmarks of any community’s customs. And the diversity of Christmas food described in this book is mind-boggling as well as deliciously tempting. From the most obvious rum cakes & chicken roasts (perhaps the only Christmas food if one goes by popular media), to the more localized variants like cakes with pethas, “cake ki roti”, kebabs, chicken & mutton curries of Kerala, avial, kulkuls (or khajur), arsa etc; one drives home the fact that Christmas isn’t mere Westernization, but a fond assimilation of yet another religion by much older communities of a nation with an even older heritage.
I went down my own memory lane as I read of trivial instances like strictly following all proportions of cake ingredients to the T, assigning a male member to mix the cake batter (because of sheer strength required), a grandma being particular that the batter be mixed clockwise only, eating more dry fruits than chopping them, scrutinizing all cakes & goodies received from friends & family, communal feasts, wandering door to door singing carols, spending so much time cooking food & goodies that one could actually go to Church on either 24th or 25th (because one has to host guests or visit others too!)
I also loved the selection of contributors who come from all 4 corners of the country. If there’re the obvious Anglo Indians, Keralians & Goans, there’re also people from Punjab, UP, Jharkhand & the Northeast. There are also people from multireligious families. I was surprised to read carols & Christmas themed poetry in Tamil & Punjabi. If some contributors are renowned writers, many come from other professions. It was heartening to read a memoir by a maid from Jharkhand.
I was slightly appalled by how most authors reminisced about Christmas trees & Santa Claus; it probably only shows just how deeply commercialization has ensnared all festivals. But I was also pleased to find a few essays depicting the history of Christianity in India: St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus who came to India and was the first person to bring Christianity to the country in AD 52; Jesuits & other Christians visiting Emperor Akbar (the proof of which is historical documents and Mughal painting the nativity scene).
Oh! Besides food, art is yet another reflector of any community’s culture & history. This book has many interesting photographs of paintings depicting nativity scenes in Indian styles: Mary in saris depicted as an Indian woman, even an “Adivasi Madonna” in “lal padia” (white with red patterns & borders) sari!
My only tiny peeve is that many contributors come from quite elite backgrounds which resulted in a still somewhat westernized tinge to this anthology, which goes against the purpose of this books. Maybe, a collaboration between established writers, cultural experts & common people would have created a more interesting & enlightening book which would have shown the Indianization of Christmas at a deeper level.
Nevertheless, the book is a delight to read. PS: Please keep a cake handy while reading it. Or maybe a kaju katli or any other favourite festive snack or goodies.
December 20, 2024
Don’t get me wrong, the writing in this is high quality, given the authors participating. But the content for me felt a little repetitive and lacking. Different people recalling memories of their favorite holiday pork meals and sweets is fine for a story or two, I just expected there to be more. Also, while I understood the theme of unity and acceptance between religions that was presented (great), it was mildly unsettling how even where Christianity is a distant minority, the celebration of Christmas is so pervasive. For a non Christian, it reaffirmed a little bit of how Christmas is the “normal,” how that religions hegemony is so strong. It made me think of the way my Jewish friends feel during December when even “secular” Christmas is still Christmas everywhere. Overall, a quick read I don’t regret, I just think it could’ve been more.
December 23, 2023
Bollywood movies have done a great disservice to Indian Christians by reducing them to a stereotype. In reality, Indian Christians are as diverse as any other group, with Christians often having more in common with their immediate neighbours of other religions than with Christians from another part of the country. More importantly, while Christmas may be a Christian festival, non-Christians to celebrate the festival and have memories associated with it.
This brilliant anthology brings out the sheer diversity of how Christmas is celebrated in India. From villages in Meghalaya coming together to decorate their homes with what is available locally, to a tree decorated with Christmas ornaments brought from abroad. From a family making the Christmas cake using a recipe handed down from an English grandmother, to the domestic worder thinking of her home in Jharkhand while attending service at a church in Delhi and dreaming. From the newly wedding husband asking his Christian wife if Christmas lunch will comprise of mince pies before being confronted with gajar halwa and kebabs, to the Hindu shopkeeper keeping his store closed on Christmas so he can call on his friends. Each story brings to life the myriad ways in which Christmas has become a quintessentially Indian festival.
One essay was set in the township where I grew up- the situations and locations were familiar, the interpretation less so. Which left me thinking about how privilege (mine) colours our perception of any experience. I am not going to forget that essay in a hurry.
Any book of this nature will teem with descriptions of food. Familiar or unfamiliar, they will all remind you of feasts you have partaken and which remain unforgettable. But far more than the food, what remains with you is the reminder that Christmas is the time to let go of old animosities and starting strained relationships afresh.
A brilliant book, which will make a perfect gift for people who love to read about and understand India.
This brilliant anthology brings out the sheer diversity of how Christmas is celebrated in India. From villages in Meghalaya coming together to decorate their homes with what is available locally, to a tree decorated with Christmas ornaments brought from abroad. From a family making the Christmas cake using a recipe handed down from an English grandmother, to the domestic worder thinking of her home in Jharkhand while attending service at a church in Delhi and dreaming. From the newly wedding husband asking his Christian wife if Christmas lunch will comprise of mince pies before being confronted with gajar halwa and kebabs, to the Hindu shopkeeper keeping his store closed on Christmas so he can call on his friends. Each story brings to life the myriad ways in which Christmas has become a quintessentially Indian festival.
One essay was set in the township where I grew up- the situations and locations were familiar, the interpretation less so. Which left me thinking about how privilege (mine) colours our perception of any experience. I am not going to forget that essay in a hurry.
Any book of this nature will teem with descriptions of food. Familiar or unfamiliar, they will all remind you of feasts you have partaken and which remain unforgettable. But far more than the food, what remains with you is the reminder that Christmas is the time to let go of old animosities and starting strained relationships afresh.
A brilliant book, which will make a perfect gift for people who love to read about and understand India.
December 11, 2023
A delightful collection of Essays, personal stories, poems and hymns which talk about the assimilation of Christmas in our country over the centuries, and the regional differences which enrich the festival - making Biryani and Mutton Curry staple fare for Christmas, as well as making you drool over the pages of the book with fantastic descriptions of Vindaloo, Sarpotel, cakes (mixed with spices) et al. It also is a reflection of how diversity makes everything beautiful and should be protected at all costs.
January 4, 2026
This was such a random find at the library. This essays range significantly in quality but I very much enjoyed reading the memories of Christmas celebrations in Bombay, particularly of Goan Catholic sweets and others that I was familiar with growing up and assumed (incorrectly) was an important aspect of Christmas everywhere. Learning about its local specificity and cultural syncretism was enjoyable.
November 28, 2024
2.5 stars.
I did learn a lot about the multiculturalism in India and pluralism. This was an easy read with multiple authors.
But while many stories seemed to repeat similar ideas (maybe they were not all necessary), some stories wandered off-topic (maybe a central narrator linking the stories or the authors would have helped.) Some holiday stories, some musings about pluralism or personal rememberances of village life in India.
I did learn a lot about the multiculturalism in India and pluralism. This was an easy read with multiple authors.
But while many stories seemed to repeat similar ideas (maybe they were not all necessary), some stories wandered off-topic (maybe a central narrator linking the stories or the authors would have helped.) Some holiday stories, some musings about pluralism or personal rememberances of village life in India.
January 24, 2026
The New Vessel Press’s 2022 collection of Indian Holiday short stories is entitled A Very Indian Christmas: The Greatest Indian Holiday Stories of All Time. The collection has three fictional stories, poems, and many essays of personal memories. The poems were by Rabindranath Tagore, Alfred J. D’Souza, and Leon D’Souza. Two of these essays were written by non-professional writers. In A Very Indian Christmas, the biographical sketch of Minoo Avari, who wrote an essay, says he “is a retired tea and coffee planter in Kodaikanal.” In A Very Indian Christmas, the biographical sketch of Mary Sushma Kindo, who wrote an essay, says she “is a domestic worker in Delhi. She hails from the village of Simdega Sawai in the Simdega district of Jharkhand in northeastern India.” The writings were by Jerry Pinto, Madhulika Liddle, Salman Rushdie, Khushwant Singh, Anupama Raju, Elizabeth Kurwilla, Vivek Menzes, Hasda Sowendra Skekhar, Jhumpa Lahiri, Deborah Rosario, Easterine Kire, Nazes Afroz, Vieo Pou, Damdar Mauzo, Manimugda S. Sharma, Mohona Kanjilal, Nivedita Mishra, Arwinda Adiga, and Nilima Das. I found the biographical sketches of each writer at the end of the collection interesting, and they added to my understanding of the writings. I really enjoyed reading this collection of Indian Holiday stories; the writings seem very well chosen.
June 13, 2023
a beautifully curated book of memories.
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