Goa

There is a common misconception that Goa is a Roman Catholic state. It isn’t. It is only 26 per cent Catholic. But Christmas in Goa is truly special. It starts long before in the homes where sweets have to be made, clothes have to be stitched, new furnishings have to be chosen and a crib has to be erected. Youth of every parish compete with each other to produce the best crib, which represents the scene of the birth of Christ. Every church is ablaze with lights and all stops are pulled out. As every Christian school kid knows, Easter is the most important of Christian festivals, as it marks the resurrection of Christ, but it is Christmas that rules everyone’s hearts.

The only problem with Christmas in Goa, is that it is taken a bit too seriously. Many shops and perhaps even your favourite restaurants will be closed. So check in advance. If you’re in a hotel, it might be a good idea to book a table for yourself. Many hotels do festive spreads and there are Christmas dances to attend everywhere.

Dehradun

The hills come alive with the sound of music at Christmas time. In Dehradun, for instance, the churches get dusted off and the faithful dig out their clothes. The choirs are often an eclectic mixture of young voices, chosen not for their faith, but for the perfection of their sopranos. There’s always the possibility of a white Christmas and there are enough people who have made their own wine or baked their own cakes to make it seem like an old-fashioned Christmas. The residents, as opposed to the tourists, are a fairly tightly-knit bunch and keep things going and the spirit alive.

And that eventually is where Christmas lives—in the hearts of those who believe as Carl Sandburg did, that every baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.