Christmas was quiet this time. With two deaths in the family this year- (I lost my grandma and my husband lost his grandpa) we did not really deck up the halls and sing fa la la la in high spirits.
But it was exciting and fun to see the city lit up and decorated. In my city it is all about paper stars! Gosh so many kinds. I don't think I have seen so many kinds in the Middle East or in the US where I have lived.I mean people do put up trees and cribs and fairy lights. But the paper star is the signature piece. The most essential element. And You have to see it to believe it. They come in Christmasy colours of gold, red, silver, white, frosty blues and then in some atrocious colours and combinations of those atrocious colours like neon pink, green, blue and orange! :D And the creators get pretty creative with the shapes too. Apparently stars are oblate spheroids(whatever that means!) So its not only the traditional star fish shape, but all kinds of star polygons, rounds stars with spikes and what not!
But it was exciting and fun to see the city lit up and decorated. In my city it is all about paper stars! Gosh so many kinds. I don't think I have seen so many kinds in the Middle East or in the US where I have lived.I mean people do put up trees and cribs and fairy lights. But the paper star is the signature piece. The most essential element. And You have to see it to believe it. They come in Christmasy colours of gold, red, silver, white, frosty blues and then in some atrocious colours and combinations of those atrocious colours like neon pink, green, blue and orange! :D And the creators get pretty creative with the shapes too. Apparently stars are oblate spheroids(whatever that means!) So its not only the traditional star fish shape, but all kinds of star polygons, rounds stars with spikes and what not!
Photo Credit:mckaysavage
My son was a sheep in his Christmas tableau. :) He had to wear black socks and was wrapped in a nice white towel and I made him a sheep mask. And it is so cute that he has learnt to say say "Amma, Happy Chrisamasa" in his little squeaky voice. And when he claps his hands and sings "Hey Jinga Bay!"
We spent the day at my husband's ancestral home and how an 83 year old woman (his grandma) who lives alone, cooks an entire Christmas breakfast by herself is still a miracle to me. And how everything is maintained at the perfect temperature ready to be consumed the moment you get there. No microwave, people. Just the desire to be perfect, the methods implemented, years of experience and a box made out of good old thermocol! We just needed to show up on time and eat. Unfortunately, yours truly fell sick eating her own home preparation of shrimp, the previous day (no, I'm not a bad cook, the shrimp was stale?) so could not devour the tasty dishes as much as she wanted to.
But wouldn't you agree that there is nothing like resting in an ancestral home? Large and airy with its wooden ceilings, and cool red oxide floors, a 100 years old, away from the madding crowd and in a sleepy town where time decides to take its time and slow down. No time does not fly here... it is well mannered and decides to wait till you are done. Done with all the chatting and the eating. Done with the day dreaming and the afternoon potbellied siestas. And when there are enough hands to busy a 2 year old, the mom gets to relax, recuperate and rejuvenate. It was a quiet Christmas alright. But it was perfect!
