Christmas Cheer

Christmas Carols.... even writing about it brings a smile to my face. I studied in a Christian school and my college was also run by a Christian institute. Lived with Nuns in habits and later we were shocked to see our nuns wear sarees. They were from another world for us as small children. they dressed different from us and spoke only English at a time when we hardly had English speaking parents.
They taught us the love for Hymns and Carols. Morning assembly had a prayer and a song from the Song book. It was nostalgic to have the school song book again in my hand for our 25th year class reunion. Carrying the song book to the assembly was compulsory though we knew most songs by heart. Then there were group singing competitions in school where we all sang songs. We were made to hear on the lone school tape recorder and then the Sisters improvised on it as we couldn't sing that well. I could not sing well but I enjoyed listening to the girls.
At the College Hostel, we used to go carol singing to different buildings in our area. The college is located in an ultra posh residential area. Those days we got early dinner ie before seven pm. Then we went for Carol singing. Buildings were allotted to us and pairs were made. Floors were decided as in which girls will cover which floors. One person was responsible for attendance. Certain buildings allowed us to go in. Santa with us would ring the bell, give sweets to building children playing in the compound. Girls sang Christmas Carols and some went up to collect donation. This money collected was given for education of orphan girls. After all girls in pairs came down from the multi storied buildings and those days 11 floors was a tall one, Attendance was taken. Only then did the group move to another building. The route was mapped beforehand. All of us had to follow the nuns who came along. When we came back to the hostel, we got a hot cup of coffee and one cookie to eat. We didn't mind singing all over Carmichael road, Alta Mount road because of this treat. There were lot of consulates in this area and lots of expats residing. For we hostelites, it was a joy to peep into their houses. How those houses with lamps, soft curtains blowing in the winter breeze and photo frames all over the sideboards looked so welcoming.
I had an Uncle s house in this locale and would take the whole group to her building. The Aunt was really sweet and would feed me goodies. After I left college, the Carol singers did not go to her building. Even after twenty years, my Aunt reminds me that they only came when I was in the hostel.
Such happy soothing memories....