Debina Bose
CHRISTMAS COMES CALLING… and what are kids doing about it? Orissa POST catches up with the hopes of some boys and girls for the colourful season that is set to unfold in a week’s time, and hear how they caught up with the occasion in the past.
With a week left for the jingle bells to ring, enthusiasm is steadily building up among the city’s children in celebrating Christmas. December 25, and the night before, have always been one of the favourite occasions in a kid’s calendar. Not only its arrival during the winter school vacation — a time for merriment — but also the anticipation about the arrival of Santa, the Christmas trees and stars lit at home, and the carol singing, all these keep them happily engaged. And, there also begins the countdown for the New Year!
Besides getting the favorite gifts from their parents, singing Christmas carols in schools and along the streets, decorating Christmas trees, and gulping yummy cakes to enjoying the time with friends, Christmas always brings a packet of memorable moments for the kids. OP chatted with a few kids to know how memorable their Christmas moments would be this time.
For five-year-old girl Aheli, Year 2013 will always be memorable as she got her long-awaited gift on Christmas. “My parents had told me that if I scored good marks in my final exams, Santa will gift me my favorite Barbie kitchen set. And, to my utter surprise, I woke up 25th morning and found my gift lying on bed. This time, I am hopeful too. I prayed Santa to gift me a new party dress. Hope my wish comes true,” said Aheli.
Naitik, a Class IV kid, had a memorable Christmas moment in year 2012 when he brought a smile on the face of their building’s watchman. “Shyamji is of my grandfather’s age and, till today, he works day and night to secure our premises from any danger. Two years ago, on the day of Christmas, I gifted Shyamji a new shirt along with a sketch of him wherein I made him dress like Santa. He was overjoyed though he initially refused to accept the gift. It was his teary eyes and his wrinkled smile which gave me my most memorable Christmas moment,” said Naitik.
For Harpreet, it was the reunion with her best friend on Christmas eve which gave her the best Christmas moment. “Sunaina and I were best friends since nursery and we celebrated every festival together. However, due to some misunderstandings, our friendship broke apart. Last year, before Christmas, I was missing her terribly. Then, suddenly on Christmas Eve, my doorbell rang and I saw Sunaina holding a huge cake and her father carrying a Christmas tree beside her. I screamed out of joy and the next day we went out, ate yummy delicacies, paid a visit to church and had loads of fun together,” quipped the six year old, Harpeet.
Experiencing a snowfall for the first time in his life made Ashes have his most memorable Christmas moment. “With my parents, I visited Shimla during my winter vacation. The climate was extremely chilling there and we regretted planning our trip. Then, suddenly, one morning, I woke up and saw that the entire area outside our hotel was snow covered. As I stepped out, I realized that I was getting wet and slowly it dawned on me that I was experiencing snowfall for the very first time. I rushed inside and suddenly my parents yelled ‘Merry Christmas’. I will cherish the moment throughout my life,” said Ashes, a Class VI student.
Pritam discovered his most memorable Christmas moment at a time when he thought that he would have the worst Christmas ever. “In the year 2010, my grandma was hospitalised two days before Christmas, as she was suffering from acute asthma. On the day of Christmas, when I paid a visit to her, I noticed a small girl sitting on the bed beside my grandma and crying profusely. Grandma told me she had a stomach infection and was extremely sad as she couldn’t celebrate Christmas. I rushed out to buy a soft toy and a chocolate for her. By the time I returned, she had fallen asleep. I kept the gifts beside her. As I was about to leave, I saw her getting up and she was extremely surprised to see the gifts. She enquired of the nurses but nobody could answer her as to who brought it for her. Smilingly, she hugged the teddy bear and whispered, ‘Merry Christmas’ to herself. I quietly watched, as my grandma whispered, “Bless you son.” I thanked God for giving me the best Christmas ever,” said the five-year-old Pritam.
