KARACHI, Dec 20: Pakistani Christian community’s invaluable contribution to the country socioeconomic growth has always been acknowledged but many of us, perhaps unwittingly, overlook its role in enhancing the cultural landscape of our society. The warm and cheerful way with which it celebrates its religious and cultural festivals adds vibrancy and colour to the surroundings where members of the community reside.

To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ every year Christians living in Karachi and the rest of the religious entities celebrate Christmas with a delightful blend of spiritual zeal and festive mood. Carols are sung in churches and residences are decorated with the Christmas tree, garlands and plants associated with the tradition, while the exterior of the houses are brightly decked out.

Like any group of people, adherents of the Christian faith have their distinct styles of celebrating Christmas. Take for example the very important phase of preparing for the big day. Some keep it understated and others show more vivacity and enthusiasm.

According to Sabrina John, a teacher at a local school, “Preparations for Christmas include the making of sweets, the most important of which is the fruit cake. The tradition of carolling is still practised among certain people and children eagerly await the opening of gifts on Christmas Day that family members place in the stockings. The decorating of the Christmas tree is a tradition that begins a week prior to Christmas Day and each family has special ornaments that they hang on the tree.”

Anita Kenneth, who heads the marketing department at Atrium cinema, says: “The spirit of celebration was more when I was a child because when I started growing up there were other things, like work, that occupied the mind and the sense of celebrations faded off. I don’t know why. When you are a kid you are more excited about presents, eating a lot of cake, decorating the house etc, but when you grow up you tend to giving out more.

“The memory that stands out from my childhood days is of the Christmas tree, listening to Christmas song and not just that; other communities, especially our Muslim neighbours, used to come and decorate the tree with us. It was more of a fun thing. I remember them saying to me, ‘Anita make sure you don’t make the tree without us.’ We would bake cake, give out gifts, and in those days it did not matter how expensive the gifts were. It was all about the sweet gesture to come over and celebrate together,” says Ms Kenneth.

On the other hand, growing up brings responsibilities and the elders have to make the occasion colourful and vibrant for the younger lot. Gerald Lazarus Khokhar explains: “It is the usual for us. We decorate our houses, make new clothes for our children, carol parties visit us, we wish each other and present dried fruit etc. On the night of Dec 24 we go to church. Then on the morning of Dec 25 we have our breakfast and afterwards go to our relatives’ place and celebrate with them. Basically it’s all about a happy occasion.”

With only a few days left for Christmas, it’s time to make join our Christian community to make a beautiful Christmas tree.