From midnight mass to festive gatherings, Hyderabad celebrates Christmas in faith, fellowship

Hyderabad: Christmas is a time for reflection, renewal and togetherness. On this day, families and friends in Hyderabad come together to share a hearty feast and spend time together.

Christmas means different things to people, with spiritual reflection on Jesus’ birth, family togetherness, traditions like trees and gifts and a spirit of generosity, kindness, and giving to those in need.

However, some lament the festival’s increasing commercialisation and focus on materialism over its core values of love and compassion.

It is a time for renewal, gratitude, sharing joy and remembering humanity, often bridging cultures and faiths through shared celebrations of goodwill, unity and the spirit of giving.

Celebration of Jesus' birth

The core meaning for Christians is commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, seen as God's gift of love to the world.

Spiritual Reflection

A time for believers to reflect on faith, God's love and the teachings of Jesus, focusing on humility, mercy and charity.

Family and togetherness

A cherished time for families and friends to gather, share meals, exchange gifts and enjoy each other's presence.

Traditions

Decorating homes, Christmas trees, lights, singing carols and waiting for Santa Claus are common practices that bring joy, especially for children. A reminder to value being with loved ones (presence) more than material gifts (presents).

Spirit of giving, kindness and compassion

The season inspires spreading love, kindness and goodwill, extending beyond family to strangers and the less fortunate.

Charity and service

A call to action through food drives, volunteering, donating, and helping the poor, sick and lonely.

Unity and brotherhood

A time when people of diverse backgrounds and faiths come together, fostering a sense of global community and shared humanity.

Commercialisation

Many express concerns that the focus has shifted from the spiritual and communal aspects to excessive shopping, spending, and consumerism. A common sentiment is that the ‘true meaning’ of love, sharing and giving is being overshadowed by commercial pressures, leading to a loss of its original essence.

How Hyderabad celebrates Christmas

Aruna Bahuguna, IPS, former Director General of Police, says, “Christmas is all about loving and giving, hope and peace.”

M Prabhu Krupakar, Founder, 316 Consulting, Project Director – The Chosen (TS & AP) says, “For me, Christmas is a season of quiet reflection rather than noise. It reminds me that hope often arrives gently—through service, presence, and love lived out in simple ways. Beyond celebration, Christmas calls us to restore what feels broken, to show up for one another and to lead with compassion. In a world that rushes past meaning, this season invites us to pause, remember why faith matters, and let it move us toward kindness and responsibility.”

For some, it was about looking back at a personal journey.

Mondira Jaisimha, City Head, ElderAid, Hyderabad, says, “Christmas, for me, means joy, togetherness, love and family! Growing up, Christmas was spent with my grandparents in Calcutta. Everything was festive and the air was filled with a feeling of excitement and anticipation! Carolling, visiting friends and relatives and eating all the goodies, so quintessentially Christmas!”

Importance of gratitude

Vimala Madon, a retired bank executive, says, “Christmas to me means the joy of family coming together, the singing, the feasting, the decorating and the feelings of goodwill and cheer and love.”

Gratitude is a line that runs among everyone. For Cheryl McGinn, a Business Entrepreneur, Christmas is a time to pause, reflect and appreciate the people and moments that truly matter—celebrating togetherness, kindness and gratitude.

Todd Armstrong, a travel agent, explained what Christmas is among the Anglo Indian community: “Christmas is the season where every Anglo India looks forward to, the feeling of Christmas starts early December at every Anglo Indian’s house, the preparation of our lovely Christmas sweets like rose cookies, kulkuls, guava cheese, and coconut sweet, these being the few that we all look forward to taste.”

The preparation is followed by a Midnight Service and a meet and greet, where the actual fun starts.

We look forward to the Boxing Day ball, where we all dance our hearts out, and we also have a dance on December 27 organised by the Twin Cities Anglo India group, said Todd.

The joy in giving gifts

Children have a special reason for looking forward to Christmas. It is the many gifts that await them from all the elders of the family.

Dr Radhika M Nath, business owner, says, “Christmas means giving, kindness, abundance, lights glowing in the short, dark days. It is one of my favourite times because kids are so excited to receive presents. The way they look when they open the wrapping! It makes me tear up. My kids always love raising their juice glasses with our wine glasses to a lovely family meal, which makes you feel warm and happy.”

Dr Cecil Naveen Elias says, “To each one Christmas means different things, the common celebration being the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even as children, we would gather excitedly around our grandmom while she set about her Christmas sweet-making. The usual fare made every year - fruit cake, kulkuls, murukus, fudge and her rava ladoos were to die for. She was famous in our locality, especially for this delicacy which would melt in the mouth!

Dr Cecil explains how Christmas in 2025 is going to be a special event for the family: “This time round, Christmas is special as we three siblings are meeting together after 20 years. So, it's just us watching the midnight mass online and later tucking into some chocolate ripple cake, which my sister makes so delectably. The church choir came in the first week of December to sing carols for us. An event we look forward to every year. The choir I play for went to some of our choir members' houses, who were indisposed to render carols. We spent enjoyable afternoons with them. Our choir, the 'Festival Choristers', whom I accompanied were the first to present their Christmas concert this year. We were indeed happy to bring in the Yuletide spirit to the twin cities. Most of all, Christmas is quality time spent with family and dear friends and keeping in mind that 'Jesus is the reason for the Season!'”

Kunisha and Diantha, corporate trainer and content writer, tell us, “For us, Christmas time is about warmth, togetherness, and joy. It’s that feeling of slowing down, being surrounded by people you love, sharing laughter, food and stories, making memories together. It means quality time with family at our annual Christmas potluck, catching up with friends who’ve come home for the holidays, baking far too many cakes, and going carolling all night, celebrating the reason of the season, the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There’s a lot of love, gratitude and comfort in the air, and that’s what makes Christmas special for us.”

Helping those in need during festival time

Many also spoke about the importance of being charitable towards the less fortunate. Dr Kiran Chakravarty Sumanth, a doctor and author, says, “Christmas is a time for festivities and spreading joy. I feel that apart from the festivities, it is a season to give love and compassion to the needy. We can give warm clothes and share our Christmas goodies with the economically challenged. A smile and sparkle in their eyes is enough to make our Christmas truly joyous.”

Clarina Emanuel, a businesswoman says, “Christmas is a time to prepare myself spiritually for the coming of the Lord. It is also the time to bake fruit cakes and make different sweets for the family and visitors.”

Maria Jayasheela, a retired teacher, recollects the kind of festivities that she enjoyed during her childhood: “Carol singing, decorating the Xmas tree and crib, midnight service and the taste of kulkuls, rum cake from Mogla Bakery in Mettuguda, elaborate family breakfast and lunch with mutton stew, kheema puffs, chicken roast and mutton biryani.”