All I want for Christmas…-By Somasiri Devendra Source:Sundaytimes  Christmas midst COVID. Dayadari asks me what I want for Christmas. Christmas in a Buddhist household? Yes, because “Christmas”, here, is not about religion: it’s is about my mother. And her Christmas lunch. As children of a mixed marriage (Sinhalese-Buddhist and Burgher-Christian) we were at home in both Buddhist and Christian festivals (and also, for seasonal fare, Hindu and Muslim ones, courtesy of our growing circle of friends). Yes, we celebrated Christmas, but in a muted way –with gifts, crackers, Love cake and Breudher when we were little and, when we were not so young, with only a festive lunch. Then, when we were all grown, but not yet married, Lloyd and Rita, two little, very little, kids both below four years, came to live with us, freeing their father to care for his terminally ill wife. They made our lives that ...

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