As the city gears up to celebrate the festive spirit one can see many carol singers spreading the joy of Christmas from door to door.
After all the goodies were consumed and the gifts were exchanged, it was time for Christmas carols. As the city gears up to celebrate the festive spirit one can see many carol singers spreading the joy of Christmas from door to door.
The making of a crib, decorating trees and homemade sweets form an essential part of the Christmas celebrations. In like manner, singing Christmas carols during and after midnight mass in different parishes or crooning in different wards of the city on the nights leading up to Christmas, is a vital aspect of the Christmas season.
Just a week before the D-Day, one can see the carol singers active with joy. Sandra Rodrigues, a carol singer, says: “We visit everybody’s home to sing Christmas carols. We experience the joy and togetherness that people share. The hymns that we select as carols announce the arrival of Baby Jesus. For us the special moment that we experience includes the joy that’s seen in the preparations people do for the coming of the Lord.”
At a carol singing competition held at YMCA club recently, one could see the choir groups stirring up much enthusiasm among the large audience. Though the ‘X-mas candles’ — the Loyola Hall Choir Group — won the contest, it was a reflection of combined spirit that glowed all around. Saju James, the leader of the Loyola Choir group says, “We have been winning this competition for many years now but our real aim is to enjoy the mood of the festival through carols. Even today many respond to the calls of their pastor where all come together as a family and are given thorough training in singing Christmas carols under the guidance of their church choir master. It continues to be one of the main attractions of the Christmas programmes,” he says.
The purpose of going from house to house singing carols has a specific purpose. At each house, the singers present a money collection box to the listeners and at the end of the week, they distribute the money - in cash or kind, if they desire to buy something with it — and donate it to the poor. Says an old-timer:
“In the past we used to give the money to the Leper Asylum which is now defunct. Now carol singers may give it to their respective churches, Mother Teresa’s Home and such places.”
Of all the Christmas carols, ‘Jingle Bells’ stays closest to the heart. The first known carol, the kind of which is still in trend, was written in 1410. It was about how Mary and Joseph met
different people in Bethlehem.
“Earlier, family members had time to devote themselves for practice and there was a lot of gusto and keenness to learn new carols among the youngsters” says Norina Silveira who used to sing carols earlier but stopped later. “Today, with our busy work schedule, few have time to commit themselves or entertain people with carols.”
Denny Joseph also has stopped going around with the carol singing groups. “I used to sing earlier but have left it now. But that doesn’t mean my Christmas spirit has lessened one bit,” he says.
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