Last Updated on February 18, 2021 by Augustin Fernandes
In Goa Christmas is one of the most important festivals that is celebrated by People from all the communities with a while lot of enthusiasm. Midnight Mass is a popular tradition during Christmas in Goa.
Goa is the best destination in India for tourists that are looking to celebrate Christmas away from home. Goa is one of the premium and most exciting places to celebrate the festival of Christmas.
Spending time in Goa during the Christmas time of year will surely make your Christmas the most cherished one of your life.
Rituals of the Goan Christmas
During Christmas time, village groups located all across Goa gather together along with many children and a person dressed as Santa too! These groups go around the village with a box in order to raise funds. These funds are normally contributed towards a meal for the poor or orphans.
Live Cribs
Live cribs with carol singing filled with joy go around the villages spreading the merry of Christmas. People from all religious communities in all over Goa take part in the celebration.
Local Sweets during Christmas in Goa
The families prepare local sweets of which the most popular are
1. Neureos: Stuffed dry fruit and coconut rounds.
2. Dodol: Coconut and cashew squares)
3. Aranhas: Coconut nest, which is strips of tender coconut dipped in sugar and put like a bird’s nest on to decorative butter paper.
These sweets are traditionally made at home and sent to relatives and friends during the Christmas week.
Christmas Cribs
Families also make very decorative Cribs, which are well lit up along with stars across their front entrance. This all adds up to a wonderful celebration.
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Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
Midnight Mass is a popular Christmas tradition in Goa during Christmas Eve. With almost 400 churches in Goa, people can easily attend a Mass at one of the churches on Christmas eve.
Nothing gives a satisfying feeling than saying a prayer at Basilica of Bom Jesus – one of India’s oldest churches.
Goa is the perfect place to relish the Christmas festivities. With hymns and Carols all around, you can perfectly make the most of the festive season.
Midnight Mass proceedings usually start by 10 pm it is advisable to grab a seat at the church in advance.
Christmas Celebrations in Goa
The activities in Goa to celebrate Christmas begin from Christmas Eve when the lovely congruity and tune of the Christmas songs sung all around Goa puts one in a cheery mindset.
There are parties all over Goa that begin in the night and continue till the wee hours in the morning.
Parties are usually done after midnight mass which is held at 11:00pm on the eve of Christmas.
Another widespread ritual conducted by Goans during the Christmas season is the tradition of burning the old man.
This is a tradition on New Year Eve where a group of friend or family burn an old man made of hay and straw and newspaper.
This ritual is carried out to burn out your old demons so that you can start a fresh new year being a fresh new person.
Christmas Eve Dance
There are lots of night dances held across Goa on Christmas Eve. Lawns such as Emerald Lawns that people gather and dance under the stars.
On a regular day, especially during December, Goa is lit with party lovers rocking the dance floor. What’s special during Christmas is the exciting vibes, great bonhomie, and sparkling decorations around.
The trance party, techno parties, and rave party in places like Vagator and Anjuna are a must-attend in Goa on a special occasion.
Jive, waltz or fox-trot to the local bands would compel you to sway to their tunes. Those retro numbers and Konkani numbers are just too good for the grand occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas In Goa
A. Celebration of X’mas, New Years and other parties like sunburn and supersonic are very popular celebrations here in Goa.
A. You can wear whatever you want depending on location and occasion.
A. Live cribs with carol singing filled with joy go around the villages spreading the merry of Christmas.
Also there are lots of night dances held across Goa on Christmas Eve. Lawns such as Emerald Lawns that people gather and dance under the stars.
A. The cool atmosphere during the December also allows tourists to enjoy some site seeing around Goa without sweating too much. So December is best time to visit Goa for party lover and festal celebration.
Question. Is Goa expensive in December?
A. Yes, Hotels are very expensive during December.
Conclusion
Goa lights up to its fullest brightest self during December. The stars, the Christmas trees, the homemade chocolate, the buzz, and the jazz all add up to a wonderful feeling as you come to Goa during the Christmas week!
