The papers are full of it, in India. No, not that Christmas is cancelled but with the painful useless details of how much progress the government/intelligence agencies/any random person with an opinion, is making on the Bombay terror attack. In between all the mud-slinging and the sage nodding, the pretty people in Bombay have all been heard asking, in surreptitious tones and stage whispers, what's happening with Christmas and New Year's Eve? Are the usual parties on? What about the five-star hotels? And the clubs? Are we DOING anything this year? It's not a bad thing, mind you. We can hardly stop the days from turning and festivals from happening. But in light of everything that's happened, people aren't sure whether it's tasteful to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ or worry about the exact moment the Gregorian calendar announces the new year. It's amusing and at the same time points a subtle finger to the fact that we really just don't know. We don't even know if we're still officially mourning. We don't even know if it's okay to be happy. We don't even know how long we're supposed to stay sad. We don't even know if it's safe to celebrate. We don't even know that there are supposed to be rules about this. It's really ironic, that in a sense, we're about as capable as the intelligence agencies we are happy booing. They don't know. We don't know. Of course it's not a simplistic similarity because their not knowing has cost us many lives. And our not knowing will probably save us a few bucks.
Nobody wants to admit that it's not because we're short on cash, considering the global downturn or that we're trying to be superficially sensitive or that we're a little of both, that we aren't as crazily enthused the upcoming holidays this year. By now, conventionally, there would have been a frantic scramble for the Bombay gym passes or what have you. The unwillingness to admit that we're more than a little scared and the willingness to disguise it as the politically correct thing to do, nevertheless has created an atmosphere of 'We don't know if we're having Christmas this year.'
I get at least four calls a day with the same question: What are your plans for Christmas? What do you plan to do on New Year's Eve? And I say the same thing that everyone else does. I don't know. We all know that being in Bombay or indeed most places in India for Christmas, really doesn't mean anything because Christmas isn't really traditional in this country. So here's a random thought- how would it be to celebrate Christmas this year with some actual spirit of Christmas? You know, the old-fashioned way, where you sing carols (or listen to them on CD if you don't know them or your voice sucks) hang out with your family or friends, trade small, meaningful presents, make a toast and say things you mean and eat together and actually communicate with the people you care about. Instead of landing up at some hideous, vulgar party with trance music interspersed with some inexplicable version of Jingle Bells and air-kissing people you hate and doing just about everything that makes Jesus rolls his eyes.
And if we can manage that- an old-fashioned Christmas, with Nat King Cole blaring from a scratchy record, presents for children, gathering around a delicious table and remember that this year especially, it would be most appropriate to celebrate with love and rememberance- then perhaps when someone calls to ask what plans you have for New Year's Eve, you could say: I know what I'm doing.
If I take my own advice, I'll be happy to smugly report it.
Nobody wants to admit that it's not because we're short on cash, considering the global downturn or that we're trying to be superficially sensitive or that we're a little of both, that we aren't as crazily enthused the upcoming holidays this year. By now, conventionally, there would have been a frantic scramble for the Bombay gym passes or what have you. The unwillingness to admit that we're more than a little scared and the willingness to disguise it as the politically correct thing to do, nevertheless has created an atmosphere of 'We don't know if we're having Christmas this year.'
I get at least four calls a day with the same question: What are your plans for Christmas? What do you plan to do on New Year's Eve? And I say the same thing that everyone else does. I don't know. We all know that being in Bombay or indeed most places in India for Christmas, really doesn't mean anything because Christmas isn't really traditional in this country. So here's a random thought- how would it be to celebrate Christmas this year with some actual spirit of Christmas? You know, the old-fashioned way, where you sing carols (or listen to them on CD if you don't know them or your voice sucks) hang out with your family or friends, trade small, meaningful presents, make a toast and say things you mean and eat together and actually communicate with the people you care about. Instead of landing up at some hideous, vulgar party with trance music interspersed with some inexplicable version of Jingle Bells and air-kissing people you hate and doing just about everything that makes Jesus rolls his eyes.
And if we can manage that- an old-fashioned Christmas, with Nat King Cole blaring from a scratchy record, presents for children, gathering around a delicious table and remember that this year especially, it would be most appropriate to celebrate with love and rememberance- then perhaps when someone calls to ask what plans you have for New Year's Eve, you could say: I know what I'm doing.
If I take my own advice, I'll be happy to smugly report it.
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