Food, Faith, Family: It’s Christmas time

 

 

 

As Christmas draws near, Nagpur eases into a season marked by faith, family and an unmistakable festive glow. Images of Santa Claus, midnight Mass in churches, carefully chosen greeting cards and brightly decorated homes dominate the cityscape. While churches remain central to the spiritual observance of Christmas, the festival is lived most intimately within homes, where preparation, hospitality and shared rituals define the celebrations. Residential localities come alive with strings of lights, illuminated windows and the traditional Christmas star fixed outside houses as a sign of joy and welcome.

 

Inside, Christmas trees are decorated with stars, lights and confetti, becoming the focal point of family gatherings. Food occupies a place of pride, with cakes and wine forming an essential part of the celebrations, often enjoyed during elaborate family feasts that bring together relatives across generations. Rashmi James describes home celebrations as the heart of Christmas. “Christmas at home is about slowing down and being together.

 

The decorations, the cake and the prayers create a warmth that goes beyond the day itself,” she says. For families with roots in other states, the festival reflects cultural diversity. John Regi, originally from Kerala, says Christmas meals in his household retain a strong Keralite flavour, with appam, chicken curry and vegetable or chicken stew accompanying the traditional cake, enriching the festive experience. The younger generation, influenced by global styles of celebration, is redefining how Christmas is observed. Larger gatherings and organised parties now sit alongside traditional family feasts. Despite growing scale and changing expressions, Christmas in Nagpur remains anchored in togetherness, shared meals and quiet moments of reflection within the home.