Re-Living Christmas: Cherished moments and memories #11

We had an interesting version

Of our own

Back in the village.

Actually, I’m not sure

If to call them Christmas carols,

Or a version of Halloween ‘trick-or-treat’*,

Or both.

Village children, usually ages 5 to 11

Would band together

In groups of 10 to 15,

And move from homestead to homestead

In the evenings, between 7 and 9 O’clock,

Singing parodied vernacular carols

In which they would subtly ask for Christmas gifts.

Back then, most homesteads

Didn’t have gates,

So the children would come in quietly…

Walk up to the main door

Then start clapping and singing.

That always caught families by surprise —

Coz’ village evenings were usually quiet meal times of listening to the radio

And intermittent family conversations.

So, a sudden clapping of little hands

Was always a surprising break of the evening quiet.

The children would sing

And keep singing…

Until they received a gift —

Usually in the form of coins

And occasionally, of delicacies like chapatis and madazi.

They would then say thank-you and leave.

On one night there would be about 2–3 such groups,

And given the cloak of darkness,

It was difficult to tell

If they were different

Or the same group.

But it never mattered much

Coz’ Christmas was a season

For SHARING and GIFTING.

* ‘Trick or Treat’ is a children’s custom of calling at houses at Halloween with the threat of pranks if they are not given a small gift.

** Follow us in this “Re-living Christmas’ series, to catch a glimpse of cherished moments and memories of our time.