Christmas bells rang across the city on Wednesday, with churches holding special mass and families getting together to celebrate the festival.
St. Mark’s cathedral, St John’s church, St. Patrick’s church, St. Andrew’s church, Hudson Memorial church, St. Mary’s Basilica and Infant Jesus church were among the many that had special morning prayers in which thousands participated.
At most homes, prayers were followed by a sumptuous meal, shared with family and friends. Plum cake, custard and wine were part of the celebrations in most places. If it was pork, sannas and neer dose for Mangaloreans, it was coconut rice and ball (egg) curry and devil’s chutney (sweet and sour) for Anglo-Indians. Pork vindaloo was served at homes that did not have turkey. For Malayalis, it was sweets coated with brown sugar, fried chips and tapioca dishes.
“Christmas is a time when we make peace and bridge relationships. It is also a time when we donate food and clothes to the poor and needy,” S. Seema said, adding that they cooked food over a bonfire in the garden.
