This year too they will spread warmth and cheer
Contempo singers: A virtual Christmas special for COVID times
Christmas is perhaps the most anticipated time of the year. A time of celebration, to spread the warmth and cheer that the season typically brings. However this year’s celebrations are dampened by another kind of spread, as the ongoing pandemic forces us to adjust our expectations, forgo certain traditions, and make some sacrifices.
This week, we take a look at how the lockdowns and restrictions have impacted the holiday festivities, and how we can keep the Christmas spirit alive nevertheless.
Jith Peiris: No ‘Silver Bells’ this year
Getting together with friends and family is perhaps most looked forward to during the season. However, for the residents of the Kotahena Shepherdian Home for Elders (KOSHE) this wouldn’t be safe because of the pandemic.
“We have to protect the residents at all times,” says KOSHE chairperson Christobel Saverimuttu.
Typically, the Board of Directors of the home would organise activities for the residents during the season, such as past Shepherdians coming over to sing carols, Santa giving out gifts, etc. Due to the health risks, all this will not take place this year.
Nevertheless the Board still looks to give these residents some Christmas treats. They have prepared gift bags and are also planning a series of special meals leading up to the traditional Christmas lunch.
The residents themselves have got creative with the Christmas decorations, and the walls of the home proudly bear the results of their handiwork. Christobel hopes their efforts would bring them joy.
Music is an integral part of Christmas and the choral music that heralds Christmas is cherished by veteran director Jith Peiris, whose annual show ‘Silver Bells’ typically kicks off the season. However, after nearly 33 years of directing the show, this year, he says sadly that due to the restrictions they were not able to have the show.
Jith believes that people should still strive to do their Christmas programmes on a small scale, whilst strictly adhering to the health guidelines. Personally, he hopes to put together a little socially distant choral ensemble to spread that festive joy even as Christmas will be celebrated as usual in his home, albeit with a level of caution.
To Nishantha Warnakulasuriya, a young professional musician, Christmas would normally be the busiest season of the year with a string of performances, events and concerts. This year, he intends to spend more time with his family, which is something he never got to do before when the season kept him busy and away from home.
Christmas to Nishantha is about love and sharing with family and loved ones. While his sister takes over the decorations, he keeps the music alive at home — and the usual flurry of family gatherings, home-cooked meals and singalongs is something he really looks forward to.
Rashmi: Virtual bake sale this time
From a professional point of view, he finds that musicians and choral groups have had to get creative with their performances and many have chosen to go digital through collaborative online projects, livestreams and music videos.
“Live performances may have hit a temporary halt, but that shouldn’t stop us doing what we love the most as musicians,” he says.
Nishantha has been involved in a few virtual projects in an attempt to spread that Christmas cheer this season.
Similarly to Nishantha, for Contempo, the past pupils’ choir of St Bridget’s Convent, December is generally a blur of practices and events, not forgetting the Christmas party at the end.
This time around however, it’s a low key season. They miss seeing each other regularly. “It’s never only about the music – the camaraderie is why we keep coming back,” they tell us. Nevertheless, they hope to make the best of it and are in the process of conducting a virtual 25 day Christmas programme which will include a range of Christmassy content uploaded by the members of the choir.
One positive is that it’s made them step out of the box and explore their creative side by having a bigger presence on social media. From the carols being sung on their platforms to trivia questions and a behind the scenes look into the lives of the members, they are enjoying the process of making new content.
From a home baker’s perspective, Christmas is the time of year Rashmi Dias looks forward to the most. Her love for food and experimenting in the kitchen shines on her popular Instagram page @thebakinglawstudent, where she is known for her unusual flavour combinations and awe-inspiring food photography.
For the past few years Rashmi has held an annual charity bake sale leading up to Christmas, which is the only time she sells the wide variety of delicious treats she posts on her page. It’s always a hit, with goodies selling out in record time each year.
This time too, she wanted to keep that tradition alive, and decided to hold a virtual bake sale taking orders online. Though she found it a challenge managing orders, sourcing ingredients, and not being able to make a trip to Pettah for other essentials – the sale was still as wildly popular as it has always been.
At home, despite it being a quiet season, Rashmi hopes to find new and different ways to keep the Christmas spirit going. “We live in an age where we can all still be connected,” she says, adding that you can always make the best out of what you have.
For the past 15 years, Harpo’s Group has supported the annual Christmas party at the Community Concern Centre in Dehiwala for nearly 60-100 children, a morning with Santa Claus, carols, food, interactive games, a prize giving, etc.
This year, considering the plight of most of the children and their families, the Group opted to present them with much-needed essential food packs for the whole family.
- Harpo’s: Essential food packs for families at the Community Concern Centre, Dehiwala
The children at the centre are mostly from single parent, dysfunctional families. The centre also assists orphaned children between the ages of 6-16. A spokesperson for Harpo’s Group tells us that though we are all going through trying times, these people are more in need owing to the situation they are already in.
In this sense, this year’s presentation was more meaningful than ever before, because it was a chance to be there and support someone, when they most needed it.
After all, this is the giving spirit that embodies what Christmas truly is – a reminder of God’s greatest gift to mankind- the Christchild born on Christmas Day.