The first Christmas ritual is that of soaking fruits and dry fruits in rum for the traditional plum cake
I consider Christmas to be the busiest time of the year. At home, we have this huge Christmas party every year with family and friends coming over and dining together. And being a chef, I spend most of my time in the kitchen, whipping up as many delicacies as I can.
Christmas preparations for me start – no, not a month – but a whole six months in advance, sometimes even earlier. The first ritual which comes much, much earlier than the festival itself is the soaking of fruits and dry fruits in rum for the traditional Plum Cake. As December approaches, cleaning out the house and shopping for Christmas presents begins.
My earliest Christmas memories are of sitting groggily through midnight mass, enjoying warm eggnog spiked with brandy, opening the presents of sweets and toys, singing Christmas carols as we made Kulkuls, Guava Cheese, Nevries, Marzipan sweets, et al, for the sweet platter to treat guests who come visiting… each aspect heralding in The Great Christmas Spirit. Christmas in India is an affair of families sitting down weeks ahead to make sweets, cutting soaked dry fruits, stealing nibbles, looking for hidden gifts, wrapping gifts for friends, the eager anticipation for Christmas and sumptuous meals make it well worth a whole year’s wait. And of course, the much-awaited Christmas lunch of Pork Vindaloo, Suckling Pig, Fugeas (a type of bread), Bread Rolls, Vegetable Foogath to be polished off with Plum Pudding or Plum Cake.
Though Christmas rituals are similar the world over, the food is different in different places
Though Christmas rituals, prayers, decorations and music are similar the world over, the food is different in different places. In Europe and North America, the main meal is on Christmas Eve. Roast goose or turkey, turned potatoes, glazed carrots and pickles form this meal. The Italians do it in style with a seven course meal from starters to roasts, salads, pasta, desserts not forgetting the brandy and chocolates. The Russian version consists of cakes, pies and meat dumplings. The Czechoslovakians enjoy fish based soup, salads and carp. In the Far East, Japan celebrates Christmas by feasting on Strawberry Shortcakes topped by a fir sprig. And while most of us have always pictured Christmas as being “white”, those south of the Equator know it as a summer festival. Hence Christmas lunches in Australia, New Zealand and South America are centred around roasts and salads on an overly laden picnic table in the garden or the park.
The Christmas spirit is often raised by a different kind of spirit. Champagne being the number one drink, wines flow freely as do specially brewed Christmas beers, which are dark and sweet and have a different flavour altogether. Mulled wine is another favourite drink of the Europeans. Made of red wine, spices and fruit it is served hot and helps warm the bones during the bitter winter cold.
I often wonder how Santa must feel to only be treated to cookies and milk at midnight, when the rest of the world feasts on such wonderful delicacies. Perhaps this year, I’ll be a little generous and lay out a tiny feast for him too. It’s his day after all.
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