Christmas in Santa Cruz ~ Archie D'Souza

The preparations for Christmas started on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. Fr. Prax who conducted the children’s choir would convene a meeting of all the choir members and remind us of daily practice every evening after school. Fr. Vincent would convene a meeting of the altar boys (there were no altar girls those days) who would be serving at the midnight mass. I was always in two minds but the altar boys won because that’s where one got noticed.

Sunday school the following day was also part of the Christmas preparations. Our catechist Sr. Hope told us that we had to make sacrifices to prepare for Christmas. So, we boys diligently bought little notebooks (not the digital kind) where we, without fail, noted down all the sacrifices we made. So, at a birthday party the following day I picked up a piece of cake with a little less icing. Oh! What a sacrifice that was! There were a lot of other sacrifices we boys made but nothing to beat this one. When we went to the tailor, I let him take my brother’s measurements before he took mine. The more sacrifices we made, the more would baby Jesus be pleased.

This was also the time when our parents picked up the dry fruits to be put in the Christmas cake. Those days cakes were made at home. So the ladies of the parish would assemble and buy dry fruits in bulk and these would be meticulously shared. The dry fruits would then be soaked in rum. When the time came to prepare the cake batter, the dry fruits would be well intoxicated. It was an experience I’ll never forget. That though came much later.  

Although we were supposed to make sacrifices during Advent, the festive mood had still started. Christmas carols, instead of the usual marching music would be played after the assembly at school in the mornings. There’d be Christmas parties all over with Santa giving us gifts. This was also the season for first communions and that meant more parties and more opportunities to make sacrifices. Like I allowed some other person in a buffet queue before me and didn’t have a third helping of dessert.

Then the holidays would start and we’d all get busy helping our mothers with the sweet making. Cake mixing was an art that very few people were good at. Those of us who weren’t adept at it would do other minor chores like adding flour to the batter. Everyone took part, even the neighbours, most of whom weren’t Catholics. Preparing kul-kuls was another ritual, which brought the entire neighbourhood together. Every sweet that was distributed was home-made, unlike what the youngsters go through today.

Christmas also meant new clothes and good business for the tailors. In those days our parents purchased fabric and clothes were stitched by expert tailors who were very good at their tasks. We needed to go for a first and second trial before our trousers were ready. None of us were allowed to choose the fabrics we wanted. Our parents knew what was best for us. I suppose it was a similar predicament for the girls also.

Then came Christmas night and its midnight mass! That was an experience one could never ever forget. The parish had some great singers. The choir conducted by Gus D’Lima or Dr, Joseph D’Souza (there were others also) would be at its best that night. The children’s choir too, with Fr. Prax conducting it would perform like they were competing for a prize. The SCAMAMS rivalries were forgotten that night. The Christmas spirit permeated everywhere. We children were all so nice to even Fr. Dick that night. After midnight mass, the altar boys, the children’s & adults' choirs, the ushers, and all who helped at the midnight mass would be treated to cakes, sandwiches and coffee.  I didn’t realise how good Sacred Heart was till I actually attended midnight mass elsewhere one year. Ours was definitely the best choir in the diocese. I request readers to fill in with names of the singers. Some of those I do remember are Ena & Colin Rosaria, Edna Fonseca, Vera D’Lima, Merle Almeida nee Sequeira, Merle Fonseca nee Mathias, Cornel Almeida, etc.

Christmas also meant cribs, stars, trees, and other kinds of decorations. A few days before we’d pick up a few bamboo sticks to make the frame for the five-pointed star to which we’d then stick some translucent paper on. Then we place a bulb connected to a plug point in the house. The star would light up the entire neighbourhood. I don’t remember ever seeing readymade stars anywhere. The crib too, other than the statues, was crafted by us. Buntings were made by cutting crepe paper into strips. No readymade stuff here too. That was part and parcel of the fun.

Christmas week meant parties and dances. The Willington Catholic Club was abuzz with activity during that week. Some youngsters would organise house or terrace parties. It was a time when we youngsters really socialised to the maximum extent. Many a romance was born during this time and quite a few hearts were broken too. The jolly season of fun continued till college or school reopened and preparations for the final examinations started in right earnest.

Christmas in Santa Cruz was definitely a special occasion that I don’t think any parishioner of my generation would ever forget.