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Shun charade this Christmas
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Make merry but don’t forget to share your joy with the poor and the needy out there in the street, says P. Sujatha Varma
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Glitters galore The myriad enticements should not drift one away from the true spirit of Christmas
Year after year the festive season comes around and we gear up to carry out the same old rituals. We dust off every nook and cranny of the house and stretch our regular monthly budget to hurl ourselves into the shopping fray lest we might be left out
in the race to celebrate the grand occasion in style. Splurging on pricey gifts and fancy cards with fat Santas in winter clothes, snow flakes dancing on their noses, and elaborate feasts on heavy food become commonplace. Whether you are a staunch Christmas traditionalist or keen on moving with the changing trends, Christmas decorations have never before been so varied.
Upmarket showrooms and regular shops along main roads wear an inviting look. The shiny Christmas trees, the jingle bells and other dazzling accessories prod shoppers to get out there and shop. The shimmering stars are as enticing as the sparkle of designer candles. Christmas caps and chocolates become overnight favourites. Larders are filled to the brim with freshly baked cakes and cookies.
Star attractions
Star hotels in the city have planned grand Christmas supper carnivals for those eager to free themselves of the kitchen grind without compromising on the elaborate menu. At Hotel D.V. Manor, in addition to the joy of having their faces painted and learning the nuances of balloon crafting, glass crafting and caricaturing, kids with their elders can feast on loads of food constantly flowing into the coffee shop, Springs, on December 24 and 25. Receiving sweets and gifts from a robot of a singing and dancing Santa Clause in the tastefully decorated hotel lobby will be a treat worth the experience.
Carol singing reverberating the corridors of Hotel Fortune Murali Park will culminate in a gala dinner at its restaurant on the Christmas day. The Gateway Hotel of Taj Group welcomes the city to a special buffet it plans to spread before the guests on the eve of Christmas and on the festival day.
True gifts
Festival revellers get so busy in merry-making that they often tend to forget that the actual gift of Christmas is about God’s self-giving to the world and not about stockpiling possessions. We spend huge amounts on buying souvenirs for people who can easily afford them. We lavish love on people who already have it. The Christmas season is also the time to remember the less fortunate, as we ought to be doing it throughout the year. It is also the time to ensure that our life is expanded beyond ourselves; not to overlook people who are alone, especially the elderly. A lot of people are desperately lonely and Christmas can be the most depressing time of the year for them. Bring the cookies you baked at home or share a cup of hot coffee with them. Offer to spend a small part of the joyous day with them to bring back the forgotten smiles. Then there are those who have no family at all or whose families have cast them off.
It is time to wake up to the charade that Christmas has been reduced to. Even the present day Santa Claus is an altered form of St. Nicholas, a bishop in the early church who gave gifts to needy children on December 6. It’s never too late for a new beginning. Let’s celebrate this Christmas by giving each other true gifts of love, forgiveness and peace.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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