Back in Canada, there would be no escaping all the Xmas bombardment of advertising, buying frenzies and more. There would also be a niece and nephew to spoil too!
Even last year when I was in Europe, the signs of the season abounded even in early November.
A couple weeks ago in Singapore, the Christmas spirit was ‘kick-started’ with a delightful evening with friends decorating their tree! In CBD the streets were lit and Christmas trees in most buildings.
Whereas back home in Mumbai, it’s been a bit… well.. quiet. It used to be that good old Catholic Bandra would be bursting with lights, nativity scenes and more. Has every Sandra from Bandra escaped to Canada, UK, Dubai and other shores??
Til this week.. then it was as if suddenly Bandra woke up. Practically every street is brightly lit. Signs of Christmas cheer popping up.
St Peter’s Christmas Tree
And what cinched the Christmasy mood was last night with the St Peter’s Christmas Concert. Last year I went with my partners mother and sister, so suggested my partner get passes for us this year as well. Which naturally led to the organisers asking him “You are free that night? Oh wow! Can you host the evening please???” Which in turn lead to my partner roping another friend into co-hosting too… as double trouble is way more fun!
Peter’s pic of partner & friend hosting
It was a most enjoyable mix between the first half with mostly Bandra performers and the 2nd half with the Shillong Chamber Choir joined for the first time by the Shillong Chamber Orchestra. Violins, bassoons, brass and double bass! Oh my!
Me thinks its beginning to sound a lot like Christmas… just in time!
The Shillong Choir & Orchestra
PS Season’s Greetings to all who celebrate any tradition this time of year!
Related posts:
Everyday Asia 
Merry Christmas!
And you Marta!!!
Merry Christmas Carissa.
Alison
Merry Christmas to you too Alison! And Don! 🙂
Well if they only started all the preparation stuff a week before then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But when they start bombarding us with it all from September onwards it is just depressing. This is my 22nd year of opting out.
I’m good with a week before too! But just a day or so? That does seem odd… I don’t expect in 99% of the city but I have come to expect in Bandra. Just this year it was quite subdued til the last minute and then bursted forth!
However there is clearly a story behind a conscious choice to opt in or opt out. I would have been in the later category for many years in India. However now with an Anglo-Indian partner (raised catholic), it seems perfectly natural and familiar to opt ‘in’.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, my dear! Did you have any special eats this year?
Oh groan!! Too many! 🙂 Included some insanely delicious home made egg nog whipped together by a fellow Canadian who has also adopted India as home. What about you?
Mmmm… well, of course, cabbage rolls and sausage in honor of my grandma who made us enough to stuff ourselves silly every single year. The rest was the standard like turkey with the not so standard… caesar salad! That was my request this year. Kind of messed up on the dressing but it still tasted close to how my mom made it when we were youngins.
What fun!!! I still miss good old home made perogies… I’m rubbish at making dough so even though I understand the principle and have helped make many over the years haven’t attempted to make here in Mumbai.
Oh yes… my friend taught me how a couple of years back… she’d always made them with her grama… but I don’t have the interest/patience at the moment to do that. I’d rather eat someone else’s creations!
Haha! I’m with you on that… however getting pirogies in Mumbai is impossible!
Now with my fancy new micro, I may attempt idly… even though that is something that is easy to call up and have it land at my doorstep in minutes.
Oooo! I think I saw a post title about a new microwave. I’ll have to check it out. In the meantime, does your new microwave bake? I didn’t know microwaves could do much more than, well, microwave, but we picked up a secondhand one in Japan that was supposed to bake and toast. The first time we gave the toast option a try though, the top got so hot that it almost melted some plastic containers sitting on top of it!
Yes our new microwave ‘bakes’ and ‘broils’ too! For these options you need to use metal or clay or ceramic not plastic. Kinda like… would you put plastic in your old fashioned oven?? I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around the functionality let alone used it all but so far no disasters! 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! 🙂
Same to you Constance!! 🙂
I was looking for new reading material and I stumbled upon your blog. Great post. Well written and inspiring. Looking forward to coming back and explore other ones you have.
Merry Christmas & Have an Amazing New Year!
I’m late to your post on your turf! Have fun burning the old man.
Hahaha! You bet! And Happy New Year to you too!!