Christmas is just around the corner, and the winter holidays have started. Are you planning to visit Kolkata to surprise your grandparents during Christmas? If so, you will be happy to experience a different vibe in the city. Christmas in Bengali culture is more than a religious celebration— it’s a time of togetherness, joy, and culinary delights.
In Bengali culture, Christmas – Bada Din (বড়দিন) is celebrated with great enthusiasm, transcending religious boundaries and marking a time of joy and cultural festivities. In this guide, I will give you a glimpse of Christmas in Bengali culture, starting from household preparation to a few Christmas greetings and Christmas-related vocabulary that will help you interact with the locals.
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3 Christmas Special Greetings In Bengali
It doesn’t matter whether it’s friends, family, or even coworkers; it’s always wonderful to greet the festive season in Bengali. Here are three popular Christmas greetings in Bengali that you can use to share the festive spirit:
- Merry Christmas, stay happy! – Shubho Borodin, sukhi thakun! (শুভ বড়দিন, সুখী থাকুন!)
- Christmas greetings to you too! – Apnakeo Borodiner Shubhechha! (আপনাকেও বড়দিনের শুভেচ্ছা!)
- Merry Christmas, Grandpa! – Shubho Borodin Dadu! (শুভ বড়দিন দাদু!)
Christmas In Bengali Culture
Park Street and many other roads in Kolkata are transformed into Christmas-lantern streets. For Bengalis, Christmas is not only a worship day but also an occasion of unity and enjoyment for families and communities.
Now, I will share with you some of our rituals for this festivity.
1. Christmas Preparations In Bengali Households
Celebrations for Christmas in Bengali homes are a grand mix of traditions and joy. They are decorated with lights, stars, and creches. Christmas trees have colorful ornaments, and they come in different styles. The feelings enhance the joy of caroling in both Bengali and English, increasing the level of happiness. Invitations are extended for Christmas Eve dinner, brunch, or Christmas Day brunch. For the food, the Christmas menu includes Bengali specialties such as biryani and chicken rezala, as well as roast chicken and puddings.
2. Midnight Mass In Bengali Churches
The most essential part of a Bengali Christmas is the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The Bengali Christians are dressed in their best apparel and attend different churches to celebrate this event. People sing Christmas carols in Bengali and English on the chime of the bells. The Mass also includes a heartfelt homily about the narrative of Christ’s birth and its spiritual significance.
I remember attending this mass with my friend’s family every year, and it gave me goosebumps seeing the joy and happiness. I’m a little far from Kolkata today, but I miss every Christmas celebration in my city.
3. Bengali Christmas Foods
Apart from Western-inspired treats like cakes, fruit punch, and turkey, some flavors are drawn from Bengali cuisine. Some common dishes served include:
- Bengali Fish Curry: Commonly found in Bengali cuisine, this curry is made with mustard oil and a variety of spices and pairs well with any river fish.
- Rich Plum Cake: A Christmas must-have, often soaked in rum or brandy.
- Chicken Cutlets: Fried coated in bread crumbs and served with mustard sauce.
- Shorshe Ilish: Hilsa fish in mustard sauce is a favorite dish in Bengali households, especially during occasions like Durga Puja and Christmas.
- Bengali Sweets: From Rasgulla to Sandesh, Bengali sweets are always present, and families often make a variety of homemade treats, like Kalo Jam and Mishti Doi.
On Christmas evening, my Bengali Christian friends and their families would cook some tasty foods and ask us to join them for evening tea or dinner. Among all the treats, my absolute favorite was the plum cake. Even now, enjoying plum cake during Christmas fills me with nostalgia and joy.
Spending days before and after Christmas at Flurys – Kolkata’s iconic bakery – is also a Christmas tradition for Bengalis and travelers alike. In an annual event, the bakery staff of the iconic Flurys bakery kickstarts the Christmas celebrations in the first week of December every year with their cake-mixing ritual.
The Role Of Christmas In The Lives Of Bengali Christians
For Bengali-speaking people, Christmas is not only a religious festival of prayers but also a festival of reunion. They like to attend church services like most Christians, but the essence of the celebrations is the time spent with the family. The children are excited about the arrival of Christmas, and most families make their gifts available on Christmas Day with the help of Santa Claus.
1. Family Time And Bonding
In Bengali Christian homes, Christmas is a celebration of family togetherness, with festive foods, gifts, and activities that honor cultural traditions. Everything, from setting up the Christmas tree to attending midnight Mass, strengthens the bond within families.
2. Celebrating With Neighbors And Friends
During Christmas, people also place great importance on neighbors and friends. This is evident when families often invite friends and neighbors for a meal or a small gathering. The Bengali people share the love of Jesus Christ not only with their loved ones but with their neighbors as well.
3. Understanding The Spiritual Significance
While gifts and parties are common ways to celebrate Christmas, the true essence of the holiday for Bengali Christians lies in its spiritual significance. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, express gratitude for the lessons he taught the world, and embrace his message of peace and goodwill to mankind.
Bada Din is an occasion for Bengali Christians to remind themselves of their faith and reaffirm their stand to the tenets of Christianity, which are love, kindness, and care for the needy. But it is also a time when everyone in West Bengal or Kolkata connects to God through prayer, meditation, and charitable activities.
4. Responding To Christmas Greetings
Replying to a Christmas greeting is a wonderful way to share the season’s joy. A positive response to such a message could be something like the following, while also throwing in a quick Thank you in Bengali:
- Thank you! Wishing you a Merry Christmas, too – Dhonnobad! Apnakeo Borodiner Shubhechha. (ধন্যবাদ! আপনাকেও বড়দিনের শুভেচ্ছা।)
- May God fill your life with happiness and love – Ishwar apnar jibon khushi ebong bhalobasay voriye tulun. (ঈশ্বর আপনার জীবন খুশি এবং ভালোবাসায় ভরিয়ে তুলুন।)
How Do You Say “Christmas” In Bengali?
Christmas is called Bada Din (বড়দিন) in Bengali.
9+ Christmas-Related Vocabulary In Bengali
Learn these words to connect with locals of Kolkata or West Bengal:
FAQs About Christmas In Bengali
1. Do Bengali Christians Sing Carols In Bengali?
Yes, Bengali Christians sing carols in Bangla and English during Christmas time. These Christmas songs are an integral part of the festivities. It’s great that they are local yet stay true to the spirit of Christmas. This is why Bengali and English carols add to the charm of the celebrations.
2. What Is The Significance Of The Christmas Tree In Bengali Homes?
The most famous Christmas items in Bengali households are lights, stars, and a small Christmas crib tree. It represents the glad tidings of the birth of Christ and is a nice feature of the festivities.
3. How Do Bengali Christians Incorporate Bengali Culture Into Their Christmas Celebrations?
The Bengali Christians replicate the Bengali tradition. They prepare local traditional Bengali meals and wear traditional Bengali dresses, which add a local touch to the Christmas festivity. The festivity is celebrated with a combination of Western and Bengali culture.
To Sum Up: Christmas In Bengali
Christmas in Bengali culture is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’s birthday and enjoying the festive spirit. It is a season of togetherness and a time of sharing happiness. From midnight Mass to the delightful Bengali Christmas dishes, unity and diversity are celebrated among the people. The amazing blend of Bengali culture and Christmas makes the event a very special one, and everyone enjoys it to the core. In fact, the celebrations extend up to New Year’s Day in Bengal on January 1.
If you want to learn and immerse yourself in the Bengali language and culture, you can start with the Ling app, an interactive platform that will allow you to learn the language effectively and enjoy the learning process. If you want to find out more, I have written many blogs about the people of Kolkata, Bengali festivals, pronunciation, and food. Be sure to read some of them, which will help you imagine wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ to your grandparents and friends in West Bengal.