When we say we are secular, do we really mean it? Anyways, that was just food for thought. I am not here to get into any sort of political drama or hurt any religious sentiment. However, one thing is for sure. We love staying at home or not going to work or school on gazetted holidays, no matter what religious reason. 

Speaking from a very liberal Hindu point of view, I have noticed kids having extreme excitement for Christmas. Growing up, I used to wait for Santa to come with gifts. When my mom finally told me that there's no Santa, that was one of the most disappointing moments of my childhood. I kept celebrating the festival, nevertheless. Christmas is a huge deal in Kolkata, my mom's birth place. Hence she was also partially responsible for inculcating the penchant of Christmas in me. Back then, we had always celebrated with cakes, sweet treats and gifts. I was in Christian School during the first three years of my life, and that too contributed to my enthusiasm for the birthday of Jesus. 

During my school years, we used to have a Christmas party at the Ladies Club, organized by our moms. And my college circle had girls who had been educated in missionary schools. So the obsession grew bigger and bigger. 

Over the years (last 25 years) , Christmas has grown into a commercial extravaganza. Malls in Delhi and NCR started putting up humongous trees, surpassing every year, elaborate decorations and people partied away as if there's no tomorrow. Somehow I feel the essence of this festival got lost in the commercialisation. 

As my little one started growing up and younger one arrived top, I realized that I need to give them a flavour of this beautiful festival, sans all the artificial hoopla. So I started celebrating at home. I have always seen my mom put up a small (tiny rather) tree every year, which we used to decorate. So I also got one, 3 feet tall and started celebrating. 

In 2022, I decided to go big and bought a 6 feet tree. I set it beside the mantle, we decorated it and had dinner with the family of my childhood friend. And that's how started this tradition of ours. 

Ever since then, we have been trying to play around with the decor. We have dinner (cooked by me) exchange gifts and play games. This year, I did the viral bow Garland and was very satisfied. 

Festivals should be about bringing people together, and not getting shoved in some mall amongst the maddening crowd, trying to follow what the business magnates are trying to feed us. 

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