Dreaming of a joyous Colombo Chetty Christmas of yesteryear- By Dr. Remy Perumal
Source:Sundaytimes
In the early and mid-1950s, Sri Lanka was a united, harmonious nation. They were Christmases before politicians inflamed nationalist fervour, for political gain and drove a wedge between communities. With Christmas this year coming at a time of political change, we hope it will be a turning point fostering a new era of unity
Ours was an average Colombo Chetty family of five. We lived within walking distance of St. Lucia’s Cathedral and St. Benedict’s College. Family traditions and religious convictions moulded our views and our approach to the celebrations. Our Christmases were celebrated within our means.
Mater Dolorosa Church: Where Colombo Chetties congregated for Christmas
Preparations for Christmas had many facets. Decorations commenced with the annual facelift to the family home. Houses were colour washed, doors, gates and windows painted, furniture varnished and floors polished. Apart from the colour washing, all these tasks were done by family members and polishing of floors continued well into the evening of Christmas Eve.
Family Christmas shopping was done on a week day in early December. Dad took the afternoon off work and the rest of the family joined him in the main shopping district of Pettah. Starting with clothing materials for mum and shirts and trousers for the boys first and then to the shoe shops and for the toys.
Then followed the purchase of ingredients for the Christmas cake. A shop named Umbitchi’s was preferred for items like currents, raisins, ginger preserve, chow chow etc.
After an exhausting afternoon, we were relieved to return home by rickshaw, with all the ‘goodies’. Taxis were not the preferred mode of transport then.
The Colombo Chetty carol-singing was a highlight of the Christmas season. We were in the ‘boys’ section’ of the community choir for the carols. Weekly choir rehearsals for carols usually started in September, and were held more frequently in December, with a grand practice on the Sunday before Christmas. At this final rehearsal, the four parts had instrumental accompaniment in addition to the organ.
The Christmas cake was made in early December. The ingredients were mixed a few days before making of the cake itself. Home baking was not the norm; once mixed, the cake was transported by rickshaw, with the utmost care, to the trusted local bakery and handed over to the baker, with special instructions from Mum. I do clearly remember delivering the cake tray and contents to the bakery at midday and collecting the baked cake later, the same evening.
Then followed the making of the Satti Dhosi, a Colombo Chetty speciality. The ingredients – sugar, semolina, ghee, cadjunuts and flour were mixed in a large brass wok especially reserved for this purpose. It was cooked on an open fire, starting with the sugar and water, then the ingredients added in a specific order, one by one, stirring continuously, using a long-handled metal ladle.
After two to three hours, on achieving the correct consistency, the ‘piping hot’ final product was transferred to porcelain plates, carefully levelled and left to cool. That was the ‘Satti Dhosi’ done.
On Christmas Eve, our kitchen was a hive of activity – Mum would be hands on, preparing Christmas lunch. Turkey and trimmings were not on our menu. Our traditional Christmas lunch was Yellow rice, chicken curry, beef satay, seeni sambol, pickle (red onions, capsicums, thin strips of carrot, dates etc..), brinjals deep fried and cooked and cutlets.
Attending Midnight Mass was the most important Christmas obligation. By 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve, our family was ready, all dressed in our new Christmas attire. Mum attended Mass at St. Lucia’s Cathedral which was about a half a mile from our home, going there by rickshaw. This mass at the Cathedral was celebrated by the Cardinal, the Bishop of Colombo. Dad, my brothers and I walked to Mater Dolorosa Church, which was about two miles, from home. This was the church designated to the Colombo Chetty community at that time.
Midnight Mass at Mater Dolorosa Church, had a packed congregation, every year. When the celebrant sang ‘Gloria In Excelsis Deo’, as the church bells rang out, the atmosphere outside the church would turn ‘electric’. In the streets, there was the deafening sound of crackers and fireworks. From the Colombo Harbour nearby, would come a prolonged blasts of ship sirens.
Midnight Mass was followed by carols at the church led by the choir. Then the choristers and instrumentalists would embark on their ‘carolling tour’ in the special truck with open sides, hired for the purpose. Two senior members of the Colombo Chetty community would direct the driver of the ‘Carol Bus’ to each of the designated addresses, occupied by a Colombo Chetty family. At each house, the two seniors knocked on the door and wished the occupants whilst the choir sang at least two carols from their repertoire. We had 60 houses around the suburbs of Colombo to cover.
This joyful exercise of house-to-house carol singing concluded about 6 a.m. on Christmas Day, finishing at the choirmaster’s house. There, we collected the choristers’ Christmas gifts and walked home for a well-earned sleep.
When we woke up about midday, we received our Christmas presents at home, after which we enjoyed the family Christmas lunch.
It was customary to visit our grandparents on Christmas Day, which we did late afternoon. The traditional way we greeted the elders was to join our hands and say ‘Jesus Christ’ and their response would be ‘forever’. These greetings were in Tamil. We returned home in the evening, to receive visiting relatives. After the visitors left, we were free to light our own fireworks at home.
In the 1950’s Christmas holidays were from December 24 to January 6. Therefore, Christmas visits and festivities continued right through the Christmas week. The New Year’s Eve celebrations started with a well-attended evening benediction service at the Cathedral, followed later by midnight mass.
At midnight, the New Year too was heralded by loud bang of crackers and fireworks accompanied by the incessant sound of ships sirens, reverberating in the midnight air.
These are cherished memories of my childhood Christmases. They are unforgettable memories, not for the wax-scented churches with the carolling congregations, but, because, they were true Christmases, without the commercial hype and purchasing mania, focused on food, gift giving and festivities. They were celebrations focused on the true religious significance of Christmas.
“For unto us is born a child. His name is Jesus.”
