Its December 22, and it barely seems like Christmas is coming. Its a much smaller holiday here, trailing the Hindu festival season by a few weeks, so much of the celebratory energy has already been spent. (It does seem as the festival season has finally wound down - wedding season is ongoing, but the disturbances are much more local.) In the main market, there are a few fake Christmas trees for sale, though we go there less than once a week, and this morning we heard Silent Night being played by the church.
This Christmas will be a change for us... for the last 2 years we have gone and cut down as big a tree as we could fit in our house, and then spent Christmas day with family. We have Christmas day off, but
We are told that in the cities (like Bombay) people decorate their houses and generally celebrate more. Though there are some Christians who have cause to observe the religious aspects of the day, I think its popularity is due to a combination of its Westerness and consumerism. Dolly's theory is that Christmas is more popular with the rich, who can afford trees and lights and gifts. This makes sense, and also explains why in this poor area, there isn't much Christmas. The Christian part of Bombay (Bandra) where the most decorations can be seen is also one of the richest neighborhoods.
Not that its a bad thing - Christmas is an over-commercialized holiday in the US, and I don't think even the most evangelical Christian would want only the secular aspects exported. India has a surplus of its own culture, with thousands of years of history, a handful of religions, a dozen languages and countless dialects. The calendar is already full!
This Christmas will be a change for us... for the last 2 years we have gone and cut down as big a tree as we could fit in our house, and then spent Christmas day with family. We have Christmas day off, but
We are told that in the cities (like Bombay) people decorate their houses and generally celebrate more. Though there are some Christians who have cause to observe the religious aspects of the day, I think its popularity is due to a combination of its Westerness and consumerism. Dolly's theory is that Christmas is more popular with the rich, who can afford trees and lights and gifts. This makes sense, and also explains why in this poor area, there isn't much Christmas. The Christian part of Bombay (Bandra) where the most decorations can be seen is also one of the richest neighborhoods.
Not that its a bad thing - Christmas is an over-commercialized holiday in the US, and I don't think even the most evangelical Christian would want only the secular aspects exported. India has a surplus of its own culture, with thousands of years of history, a handful of religions, a dozen languages and countless dialects. The calendar is already full!
A few years ago, some of my friends went to the midnight mass at the Trinity Church on christmas eve, they were from Bombay and went to "catholic" schools in India. They said that they weren't impressed by the celebration of Christmas in Boston and that its better and more livelier in Bombay. Its interesting to read your post. :)
I believe what you are saying. Christians are a minority here, so the mass acceptance of the holiday is stripped of its religious significance, so there is no pressure to "remember the reason for the season". And in a rich, cosmopolitan city like Bombay, I'm sure they can put on a celebration.
And not to offend anyone... but has anyone ever been impressed by a Catholic mass?