MY FIRST CHRISTMAS AT BASTORA

 

Dec 24 - I got up early morning and began a massive clean-up. Thankfully I had a little elf to help me, my youngest boy Daniel. I swept and he mopped. We had a short prayer at the Jesse tree and then we took down the ornaments. We kept aside the Advent candles too. 

We then began decorating our tiny Christmas tree. It took just about five minutes to put the red ribbons, representing the blood of Jesus flowing for our salvation. The papier mache bells and balls look so grand on the tree. Daniel made a special tree topper which we put above the golden star. A candy cane here and a garland of beads there and the tree was ready. 

Glenn had brought me some streamers which I untangled into balls - green and red.  We placed those under the tree. I also got a festive look on my essential oil dispenser. 

Maria's shawls went up. The green one on the altar below the crib and the black one on my grille outside. To make it look more festive, I attached some of the red and green bits of the streamers Glenn has got me. 

On Christmas Eve evening, we drove down to Mapusa market for flowers and some snacks to serve guests who might come the next morning with sweets. 

I did the flower arrangement once we got home but placed the petals in the fridge to use the next day. 

Come 11 pm and we were dressed and ready for midnight Mass. We had planned on going to MSFS Seminary for midnight Mass as Eliza said the service was beautiful. 

As we entered the lane to the seminary, we saw a wonderful display of Christmas lights, made simply from old window frames and sticks tied to form trees. Lights were strung around to give the effect of a fairy forest. Very ingenious!

 The service was indeed par excellence. The choice of carols, the accompanying music and the conductor Fr Winston all had their best foot forward for the occasion. 

Mass over, we got to meet some dear friends, among them Sr. Theresa, who was my children's paediatrician at Remanso hospital. We did not wait for the cake and coffee though since we do our own CCC at home.

Back home, we took the family picture and then I made coffee and served cake as we began our Carol Serenade. We first sang Happy Birthday to Jesus as we removed the veils and placed the statues into the cribs.  Then we sang The Drummer Boy as Daniel played on his drums. After we finished all three Cs, it was time to go to bed. 

The next morning, I woke up earlier than the boys to get the house in order the best I could. Then I started with the flower arrangement in the garden bed and on the Christmas table. 

I washed up all the utensils piled up in the sink, something I don't usually keep pending but I was so tired the night before that I crashed out as soon as I hit the sack! 

Then, I began on the task of making sandwiches for anyone who might drop in with sweets or for a short visit. My immediate neighbour came first with neurios but did not enter so I couldn't offer the sandwiches and cold drink. I did go and give them the bell that I had kept for visitors. These papier mache bells were ordered online as our theme is Christmas bells this year. They are meant to be hung on the Christmas tree. 

From website Gyawun.com

Later, two more neighbours came with sweets and I sent back a bell each and some sandwiches. 

We were dressed up to go out for lunch. By 12.45 pm, we were on our way to Sangolda. We got a ride with the Alto K10, driven by Fr Kim. 

At Dandeys Grill, we placed orders for sizzlers which took quite a while to come. The smallies were hungry. But, when the food came, as anticipated, they left quite a bit. The lunch had been sponsored by a benefactor whom I cannot name here but will definitely bless with God's abundance to continue blessing the MBBS boys. 

I did not order anything knowing fully well that boys will leave food. So I did get an assorted fare of chicken barbeque, cordon bleu,  steak with ham, and a bit of Aaron's chicken with white mushroom sauce. If I were to order, it would definitely be either the Cordon bleu or the Chicken with white mushroom sauce. Yummy!

After that, they treated us to icecream. I had my favourite - butterscotch cone. 

We thanked the sponsors and returned home. I cleared up the kitchen and then crawled into bed for a well deserved siesta. 

By dusk, the diya was lit and the table looked lovely in its glow. The petals and the diya lend a ethnic touch to the festivities. 

Now, its time for dinner, then I will bring in the baby Jesus, flowers and diya tray. We will take out the Happy Birthday banner. The table will remain open throughout the season and return back under the bed thereafter. 

My first Christmas at Bastora. Its very quiet here, no one blasts loud music. We played a bit but gone are the days when people actually were popping in and out of each other's homes all the time. When children played together, dancing to happy Christmas tunes like Jingle bells and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. 

Maybe in other pockets of the village, they do celebrate differently. I will have to make new friends and find out for myself next year. 

Right now, I am looking forward to the twelve days of Christmas, a time when we go visiting friends and family. We will also visit the church Nativity scenes that are in the places we visit. And I would like to stop once more and gaze in awe at the magnificent display at Damian de Goa. 

I will update this post with the gallery of cribs and the Damian de Goa display. Do check after a fortnight. 

Till my next post then its