Global Officer, Tanya Ravichandran shares her Christmas memories and her hopes for a British Christmas
December has always felt cosy and carried a quiet warmth, with my birthday tucked in, the festive spirit of Christmas, the gentle slowing down of the year, and the beginning of a new one. It is the same feeling as wrapping yourself in a soft, fluffy blanket after a long week.
My earliest Christmas memories come from school in India. The decorations, class treats, and the joyful atmosphere we all shared. Back home, Christmas was not a big religious festival for us due to our Hindu background, but we had our own little fancy dinner to keep up with the festive spirit and celebrate the significance of togetherness. My school had a Christian influence and celebrated Christmas warmly, making the school Christmas week was something we all looked forward to. The day before our official holidays began, we had a Christmas party where teaching lasted only half the day, followed by competitions and activities. We had a simple dress code, a white T-shirt and a Santa hat, nothing fancy, but enough to reflect the colours of Christmas. Each class received plum cake slices along with Frooti, (a mango drink similar to an Indian version of Capri-Sun), Peppy, (a cheese-based, wheel-shaped snack somewhat like Wotsits), and chocolates. We also had decoration events where we set up small Christmas trees, made “holly” crafts, and prepared class displays.
I remember going out with my mum and brother the night before the celebrations to buy a small Christmas tree for each of us, along with tinsel and ornaments to decorate our classroom. At the end of the day, we would carry the tree home like a prize and keep it in our rooms as our own little Christmas tree. There were carol singing competitions too each year; for which we prepared for months, sang a bunch of carols and presenting in front our judges. My class even won once, which felt like the biggest achievement at that time. I still smile thinking about it, how we are considered popular until next year some other class won. It was always a huge thing like varsities.
At home, on Christmas, we didn’t do roast style dinner, but my parents made something special and fancier for dinner than usual, my dad never failed to bring home plum cakes or rum cake, or sometimes wine cake from the local bakeries. After a lavish comforting dinner, we used to go out on drives, seeing the fancy lights out on the streets and the windows beaming, bought ice-creams, and enjoyed the smell of freshly baked festive cakes lingering the streets. Living in an area with people from all communities meant every festival was celebrated around us. During Christmas, the streets in Mumbai were decorated with fancy lights, windows in the apartments were lit up and bakeries filled their shelves with festive rum and plum cakes smelling heavenly. At school, a big yellow star was always hung above the main gate before holidays. That big yellow star became one of my strongest memories because it was used for every major festival, and marked the beginning of that one-week break we looked forward to. Since my school rarely gave long holidays except for the one-month summer vacation, the Christmas break from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day felt extra special and something we all anticipated.
This is my second year in the UK as an international student. Last year I went home, but this year my friends and I are staying back. Especially because I haven’t experienced a proper UK Christmas yet, which is famously known. The lights, the Christmas markets, the fairs and the cosy winter atmosphere. Over the winter break, I hope to explore some well-known spots and finally soak in the ‘britishy’ Christmas vibe here. This Christmas will definitely feel different, being away from family for the first time during the holidays, but it also reminds me of the opportunity I have to explore new places and create new memories here.
For those spending the season away from home, I hope you find peaceful, cosy moments in unexpected places and make new warm memories with new people this year. And for those celebrating with family, hope you a wonderful time to look back someday and cherish the joy of little moments and togetherness.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Whether you’re with family or far from home, I hope the season brings peace and joyful memories.