Seeing Christmas with a bit of wonder
He is a blogger, entrepreneur and founder of Sri Lanka’s favourite online guide to life, food and everything Sri Lankan- “Yamu”. This week, Indrajit Samarajiva, better known as “Indi” takes us back to Christmas while growing up in America , his current approach to the festive tide and what he feels is the true message of the season
Indi
My first memory of Christmas was when my Achchi sprinkled coconut somewhere and told me that it had snowed. When I was young I lived in America and we did a lot of the secular Christmas stuff, the tree, carols, gifts and stockings. I remember we used to hang up all the Christmas cards we got, but no one really sends those anymore. I also remember the snow, and the cold. That’s a part of the story of Christmas and it’s nice to experience it directly.
Christmas starts for me on December 1. It is very much a business time for me and a good revenue month. It is a very busy time at the Yamu office. But we have a Christmas tree which we put up and decorate each year. People advertise more during the season and we have fewer working days. There’s a lot to document in the city (Christmas lunches, dinners, hampers) and that’s most of what’s going on in the office. What I look forward to about Christmas is the time off. It’s nice to have time with family, and to breathe and start work anew.
My family and I don’t have any particular traditions of our own. We kind of pick out the parts of the celebration we like and leave out the ones we don’t, but we’ve never really added anything to the canon. I remember one Christmas my mother sewed big stockings for us and we got a book on origami. My sisters and I used that to make all of these paper ornaments for the tree. I remember we got some plastic swords and we all fenced over the holidays. I’m sure these were at different times, but it’s become one memory for me.
These days I celebrate Christmas more with my wife’s family, who are Christian. They do a big Christmas lunch with roast chicken and lamb and the works. Some of the family is from Kerala so the season is also when they have a lot of weddings over there, which we like to attend.
As an adult, my perception of Christmas has changed because I feel the commercial aspects of the season more. But we have a kid now and I’m looking forward to experiencing it again through her eyes and seeing Christmas with a bit of wonder again.
On Christmas day this year, I should be at my in-laws, probably helping prepare Christmas lunch, eating it, and then looking for some place to pass out. Then we’ll likely go to my Achchi’s in the evening. She’s 90-something and Christmas has always been important to her.
Dressing up for the holidays;Indi’s pet
During this time of the year, I hope for peace on earth and goodwill towards all people. It seems as crazy as it ever did, but I do hope that we can recognize our common humanity and be kinder, better people than we were before. I also hope people stay away from drinking and driving and avoid fire crackers. They’re dangerous and they scare dogs.
I’m a practicing Buddhist, but I’m a great admirer of Jesus and his message and I try to take some time to think about it at Christmas. Each year I try to carve out a few moments to think about the child born to no great privilege. What we shouldn’t forget during this time of the year is his message of peace and compassion towards the poor, the weak, the despised and the disenfranchised.