It is not that I have ever experienced a white Christmas..
but this is the time of the year that I love to listen to Christmas songs.
It
takes me back to my childhood and my favourite month: December. In the place I
grew up; Peerumade, December made a very noisy appearance. The wind made a
howling sound that is so unique to this area. The weather turned cooler and the
air was filled with the smell of Eucalyptus. The howling wind tore down the
twigs and leaves and at night the sound reached a crescendo. But this was also
the time for the year-end holidays. The school at that time had a January to
December schedule and the whole December was off. And since one has finished the
final exam for the year there was no more studies too. Luckily tuitions had not
made an appearance and we children were free to do what we wanted. Actually the
exams were not forgotten since the results had to be faced sooner or later. But
to douse the fear each time it made an appearance, all one had to do was to
play the game of pebbles. One throws it up and try to catch it each time it
comes down and if you can do it nth number of time, you are sure to pass! How easily
we found solutions to our fears when we were younger!
It was also the time for Christmas cakes. There were no
bakeries nearby and the cakes had to come from the kitchen. My mother would
have soaked the dry fruits in rum and the baking would start after a week of
soaking. She makes enough for us and to gift to relatives whom we would visit. She made one of the best cakes and I am yet to taste one similar to
hers! I remember the day our lab; Floppy stole one whole cake to feed her
hungry puppies. Since the cake was left to cool on the dining table, she
somehow crept in and stole one away! I don’t think she was taken to task for
that.. she was too cute and loving!
December was also the time of the year to start fresh and this
thought made one happier. Resolutions were made to study harder and to fight
less with the siblings. Since we were five, fighting was an invariable part.
There were lots of games and lots of fights!
December was also the time for Christmas Carols. Even though
the congregation was small, the Christmas Choir was a must each year. The choir
practice was mostly done at our place and a good supply of hot snacks and tea
made appearance.
It was also the time for Christmas tree! There were no fancy
decoration items but yet the tree was beautiful. It was also the time to
receive Christmas cards and to see the ones who remembered our family. The
cards would be stacked against the trees. Some would contain snaps of the
family; new additions and others we children have never seen.
And now.. December is the time to forget everything! One
works even on a Christmas day and the only tradition that I follow is the
Christmas Tree. And that reminds me that it is time to take down the Christmas Tree J
