Mangalore prepares for Christmas-2013!

Mangalore prepares for Christmas-2013!

Mangalore Today News Network

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant 
Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,

Mangalore, Dec 23, 2013: CHRISTIANITY was in soil of the Indian sub-continent, even before it was in Europe. A few years after the death of JESUS THE CHRIST, His apostle Thomas, better known as ’Doubting Thomas’  came to India and found the first Christians in what is now called Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This may be around 60 AD and there are ample records to confirm it.  However, the Portuguese missionaries are said to be the ones who sharpened and widened Christianity in Konkan and Canara where Mangalore is located. Mangalore and its Konkani Catholics have a special identity world wide and can be found in all the Nations of the world.

 

 

CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTH INDIA:
The Portuguese commander Albuquerque came with missionaries to Cochin in 1510-AD following Vascodagama’s visit in 1498: the later Christians were followers of Latin dispensation.   Good number of Konkanis / Saraswats, had migrated to the present Kanara. A fair number of the descendants of these Konkanis form the present Konkani Christian communities of Karnataka and beyond, now spread globally gaining on love for the local.

In January 1568, at the ancient Tuluva Port of Mangalore or Kudla, a few of the Konkanis accompanied the Portuguese traders from Goa to assist them in the spice industry. Gradually the earlier settled Konkanis too joined these into Christianity and branched out. This is the establishment of Konkani Christians in Kanara. Later between 1784 and 1799, this group suffered fifteen years of captivity at the hands of Tipu Sultan; it took some time for this group of industrious, intelligent people of integrity to bounce back. They were admirably supported by the local Tuluvas in tribute to their exemplary skills and contributions that bonded for harmony.

No records that Jesus Christ was actually born on 25th December exist . The Romans celebrated the ‘Winter solstice’ soon after 21st December, calling it “Natalia  Invinci’ (Invincible Birth).  About the same time too was the ancient Jewish festival of light ‘Chamukkah’ which the early Church was pre-disposed to link with.  Primarily Christian Church only celebrated Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany. Christmas was added in 320 AD by Pope Julius I. It highlighted the celebration of the Birth of Christ to illuminate and animate human life, and  became the present day CHRISTMAS!!!

CHRISTMAS IN KARNATKA:
Within Karnataka the Christian mosaic is unique–main origins are Kanadiga, Konkani, Tamil, Malayali. This has set a rainbow of celebrations that welcome the new and respect the old; secular Bharat is vibrant. Common out-looks of modern mass mentality has brought in some common styles. Colonialism of the eras past, has added certain nostalgia that defines a certain shape to Christmas. A look at general traditions is captivating.

 

 

Karnataka main stream…. Malnad Shimoga, Bhadravathi and like areas dotted with born Kannada Christians, follow Christmas customs….. marking the ’Christu Jayanthi’ Celebrations with social customs, delicacies, and ingrained habits identifying with their non-Christian fellow citizens, some with vegetarian delicacies and traditional local sweets and fashions. Tamil Christian settlers have original specialties. Those rooted in the Western Ghat areas by choice or convenience perhaps followed the Konkani majority.

The Kerala Christians without doubt continue to intertwine with an original profile of their roots, in the lands of their adoption. Taking with them wherever they went ‘Gods own’ Kerala the intrinsic goodness and deeply rooted culture. On this occasion recipies like Appam, Puttu, Avial, Kadala, Achappam, Neyappam, traditional rice and coconut dishes and spicy Chicken and meat preparations. The common traditions of Church, Cribs, Carols, Stars, Decorations and Cakes with bright lights are ever present in Universal fellowship.    
              
Today like most things garish decoration, bright lights and rich delicacies are common  through the year with disproportionate expendable incomes. Shockingly, it does not help reduce the visible number of the marginalized poor, the homeless, the street people, poverty, the exploited and rejected in every nook and corner of the world with even the environment fouled. Will empty rituals remove the trials of the weak and suffering?  Christmas and Christu Jayanthi was meant to be a time of Good Will and Hope, Peace and Joy - to change darkness to light in a greater manner.

 

MANGALOREAN CHRISTMAS:
Konkani Catholics, hailing from Karnataka, are spread around the globe infinitely; their  label for this season is ‘Nathalache Festh’ or Feast of the Nativity, steeped in nostalgia and sentiment. For many a  long journey home is  welcome. The thought of green coconut or Areca palm dotted gardens of joy along shores of the Arabian Sea and its water ways in a land called Kanara, from Karwar to Kasaragod and beyond in the hills is a miracle. Heart thumping  for a special time with Mai & Aab (Grandma & Grandpa) the elders and relatives of all possible degrees. Children (now fewer), gleefully making plans for ‘Nektr’ (star) or ‘Guddeep’ (lantern) with bamboo or coconut sticks and coloured tissue, and decorations to match. The big attraction-the elaborate ‘CRIB’ (Gardanache Gotto) with the young and old pitching in. A nice prominent spot, in the once sprawling garden it was a big affair-imaginatively hyped to heights of imagination,-Babe Christ’s Bethlehem! The hills far on the desert horizon, green fields and palms, Sheep and Shepard, winding red roads with small streams, wooden bridges dotted with travelers, cattle and people, tiny homes and bigger inns…….the infinity of imagination without boarders. Not to miss the active fountains water falls strategically placed ‘cowshed’ with angels Joseph with Mary and tiny loved Babe Jesus in the manger a happy sight that unforgettably warms the hearts of beholders. Carols sung in Konkani,English and so on. Adoration to the heights!

 

 

 

 

This season is also peak of the Catholic Wedding season, Wedding venues and arrangements have to be booked more than a year in advance perhaps. Santa Claus, Christmas trees and new stylish clothes are still a big part of Christmas at several levels. Delicacies and food play a major role too. Wise knowing elders selecting the unique menu, the ingredients and making preparations for the season. The extended family lending hands to mix cake dough, knead and shape the ‘Kuswar’ - kalkals /kiddio, gulio (jaw breakers) rose cookies, coconut sweets, nevrio, guava cheese, tukdio, ginger/grape wine ….and much more! In the past made at home by loving hands, shared with family, relatives, neighbors and all alike was pride of the season. Today Christmas is X’mas, and comes off  the shelves of supermarkets and malls all year round. Weddings, get-togethers, visits, plays,picnics and fun-filled joint family activities are recalled  by the now aged and aging. High density commercialization, development and transformed mind-sets of GenNext, has compelled the festive spirits to take newer forms and shapes. The spiritual part is only superficial - what matters more is the mall,the shopping, the partying and freaking out with booze and more. The nicer ’Good will’ from the heart towards neighbour is pushed to the bottom. Greetings posted are rare with mobiles and Email and so on!  The  old rapidly vanishing, the face of Kanara and Greater Mangalore is radically on the path to change and globalization.

Rudyard Kipling thought, "East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet". Thought and behaviour in the new world is beyond imagination. There is an unstopabble beautiful duality and the comfort it could bring to the future is only controlled by the Supreme! So, let it not be a time for passing good will,  hope that the NEW YEAR 2014 won’t just be lucky for some but lucky for all, with special goodness for all ! How are customs and legends passing on to future.... …….? How will new replace old….? What will Karavali be in the New Years to come! Come what may  A WISH THAT THE NEW YEAR 2014 BE  REALLY  HAPPY FOR ALL!

                                                 
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

THE CHRISTMAS CRIB
The popularity of the Christmas Crib in Mangalore is ancient. The Crib has always had a special place with young and old making this realistic and larger than life. The practice was to have an elaborate depiction of the birth of Christ in the open compound/garden, but with the rapidly changing habitation there are changing perspedtives. Now, what is the story of the origin of the ’CRIB’?  The Christmas Crib (crèche) dates back to St. Francis of Assisi. It was in 1293 that the first Crib was celebrated in the woods of Greccio near Assisi, on Christmas Eve. There lived in that town a man by the name of John (Messier Giovanni Velitta), a very holy man who stood in high esteem.

 

 

Blessed Francis called upon John about two weeks before Christmas and said to him, “If you desire that we should celebrate this year’s Christmas together at Greccio, go quickly and prepare what I tell you; for I want to enact the memory of the Infant who was born at Bethlehem and how He was bedded in the manger on hay between a donkey and an ox. I want to see all of this with my own eyes.” The Friars who had come from many communities, gathered around St. Francis as did the men and women of the neighborhood. They brought candles and torches to brighten the night. The crib was ready, hay was brought, the ox and the donkey were led to the spot. Greccio became a new Bethlehem. The crowds gathered and rejoiced in the celebration. Solemn Mass was sung.

St. Francis, dressed in deacon’s vestments, (it is said that out of humility he never attempted to become a priest) sang the Gospel. Then he preached a delightful sermon to the people. It is recorded that after the Mass, St. Francis went to the crib and stretched out his arms as though the Holy Child was there, and brought into being by the intensity of his devotion, the Babe appeared and the empty manger was filled with the radiance of the new born King.

St. Francis’ idea of bringing Bethlehem into one’s own town spread quickly all over the Christian world, and soon there were Christmas cribs in churches and homes. The Moravian Germans brought this custom to the United States.  The oldest known picture is a “Nativity scene” dating from about 380 that was a wall decoration in a Christian family’s burial chamber, discovered in the Roman catacombs of St. Sebastian in 1877.

St. Francis, who loved animals because they, too, were God’s creatures extended special kindness to animals at Christmas. He urged farmers to provide their oxen and donkeys with extra rations of corn and hay “for the reverence of the Son of God, whom on such a night the Blessed Virgin did lay down in the stall between the ox and the donkey.” A Christmastide, St. Francis scattered crumbs of bread under the trees, so the tiny creatures could feast and be happy. peace and goodwill toward all creatures.

By I J Saldanha Shet