Feliz Navidad: Christmas in Medellin

Decorations at Santa Fe

Its here, Christmas is here! More important, I am here, amidst all this Christmas! Even when I stand in my balcony here in Medellin, and just run my eyes around the landscape, with red bricked buildings and the mountains in the backdrop, I see Christmas trees of various sizes, lights of various designs and I know the kitchens are preparing for the various yummy dishes. Not that Medellin is very sleepy but I really got to know about it on the first day of December, when suddenly the sky lit up with hundreds of crackers. The noise was deafening too. Colombians were celebrating the start of the month of ‘Navidad’ which is Christmas in Spanish.

Since then Christmas is the new virus in town. People are delirious with sheer good cheer. On the evening 

of 7^th of December, the whole city started blazing with lights and candles. Balconies and windows were either lined with candles or adorned with artificial lights. Every door in Medellin now has a stocking, or a wreath or a big ribbon. Malls are resplendent, competing with each other for public attention. Santa Fe has giant snowflakes, igloos, a skating rink and a very realistic nativity scene. Oviedo has a field of giant teddy bears where kids can go berserk hugging and jumping on them. They also had Santa’s toy factory spewing gifts.

We visited the Rio and were in for a feast of lights. There were cars, ships, air balloons, clocks, bears, castles and much much more, all made of lights. There colourful fountains too and the locals had no problem getting drenched in them. There was a giant sized fair going on too. There was food. Rows and rows of food stalls selling the local barbecued corn, hot dogs, arepas, empanadas, choritzos, you name it. There was music. There was a group on violins, a group on guitars, a group breaking their bodies up elegantly to Reggae, a group on flutes. And there were toys. There were strange toys that left off rainbow lights, balloons morphed into swords and Pink Panthers, cuddly soft toys, disco hair bands. My son was agog.

I have been asking people around what they’ll be doing for Christmas and I have been told that like everywhere else in the world, Christmas here is all about bringing the family together. Wherever a person works or studies you can be sure that person is heading home this week. Most families here will be celebrating the nine days that follow up to Christmas feasting in their relatives’ homes. They decorate Christmas trees, keep stockings for Papa Noel (Santa Clause here) and buy gifts for the entire family.

They also prepare special food. One of them is a maize custard called ‘Natella.’ Another one is fried cheese balls called ‘Buenelos.’ Another one I loved was long fingers of baked flour filled with Guava jam called 'Dedito.' Yum!!

Feliz Navidad

To all girls and boys

Hope Papa Noel comes

With his sack full of toys!

Jack Frost: Snowman Fun

Christmas is the coziest time of the year for me. In India, apart from the good food, it just means cute, cheerful movies will be aired by all the English movie channels. Even if they are last year’s repeats, its enough to want to cozy up under a blanket with popcorn, coke and siblings etc. Jack Frost, the 1998 Warner Bros. movie was one of those.

A busy father who is unable to be there for his son dies leaving his son grieving and withdrawn. But he gets a second chance to make amends, and in the strangest way too. He returns as a roly-poly snowman, so that he and his son can have the adventure they missed while he was alive.

I have seen people in my life lose loved ones. I don’t know the feeling yet. They call me lucky, but I live in constant fear. Picturing a moment when I know that someone will never return includes total disembarkation of my mind into pieces that will never be together again. But imagine if that someone came back, just to see you through till you can carry on again as a whole human being!

Having said that, ‘Jack Frost’ is a warm, fun movie that the kids will love. It promotes the message of togetherness on Christmas. It is full of hockey, snow, and enough Christmas cheer to warm hearts.

Merry Christmas!

I fell in love with Christmas when I was a kid. Sometimes I feel it appealed to me not just because of the excitement but also because it was mysterious. Technically, it wasn’t my festival. I am a Hindu. But I had seen a lot of Christmas in London, and I was too young for my mother to explain that God was divided. So she played along. For me, she had to bake a cake with snowy white icing, roast a chicken stuffed with onion, bake potatoes and boil vegetables and make some thick gravy too.

Meanwhile, I was more than ready a week before Christmas with my miniature plastic pine tree, little shiny balls and stars to hang on it and clean stockings to hang on Christmas Eve. And I begged my mother for the cotton which would be my fake snow. As I grew up my collection of decorations grew too, to my mother’s consternation. Satin ribbons, shiny wrapping paper, with which I even wrapped a few Alphabet blocks to put under the tree. 

And at night I would wait, for just a shuffle of clothing against the wall, a rustle of plastic wrappers or a jingle of a reindeer bell. But I never heard anything! I remember asking about how Santa would come to fill my stocking, since we didn’t have a chimney. The answer I got was that Santa had a magical golden key which could open any modern day door. The presents had to come, one way or another.

After I was old enough to understand who the real Santa was, my enthusiasm didn’t ebb. I just started thinking aloud what I wanted in my stocking, so that my parents could hear it. I didn’t always get what I wanted but every Christmas morning my heart surged happily when I saw the bulge in my stocking. 

The bells are jingling

Hail Christmas morning

There is magic in the air

And warmth in the winter frost !

From the Magic Box!

Scenes from Halloween

A Halloween party

A tiny teeny Buzz

A row of Halooweeners!

A little monkey

Halloween decor

A puppet show about to commence

Halloween at school

Pretty Princesses

Horror Shopping!

Medellin shops started storing horror goodies as soon as September started. But the coolest of all those goodies were seen in Cachivaches in Oviedo. Not only was this shop opened specially for Halloween, every item it sold was about Halloween. Needless to say, it was a delight to window shop here.

Its hard to remember what this shop didn’t have. Everything related to Halloween starting from little fake pumpkins, clown noses, hairbands that transform innocent kids into devils, witches, bunnies and Minnie mouse. To get more hair raising, they had fake elf ears, beaver snouts with teeth, pirate eye patches, pirate hooks, fake spiders, and scorpions. There were so many choices for trick or treat bags too. There was an entire wall of little fake vampire hangings and skeleton themed crockery complete with goblets, mugs and bowls. I myself bought six tumblers with Jack-O-lanterns smiling on them.

In addition, there were some pretty mean looking masks to choose from, including the killer’s mask in ‘Scream,’ a man with a mole and a scar and a werewolf. Wigs of every colour; curly, straight, permed. Hats of every shape, witch, Mexican, pirate. 

And the costumes! For children as well as adults it was a bonanza! You want superheroes, they got Spiderman, Superman, Captain America, Tron, Thor, Mr. Incredible, Ben 10 and the aliens he becomes. You want toon characters, they got Fred Flintstone, the Smurfs, Buzz Lightyear and Woody, Pooh and his gang. For the wannabe musclemen there were Ninjas, sailors and soldiers. And for the girls all the Disney princesses and then some like Tinker Bell and Little Red Riding Hood. 

And for the older girls who wanna get naughty could be a policewoman, a witch, a waitress or a nurse. Apart from the dresses, the girls could go nuts on a row of accessories starting from fake eye lashes, witchy nails, stockings, black lipsticks and dramatic fluffy scarves.

The decoration for this shop was another treat. Creepy and festive at the same time. The ceiling was covered in fake cobwebs. While one corner had a mummy with a half exposed skeletal frame, another had a zombie baring his teeth at us. There was even a blown up vampire who would creep out of his coffin from time to time. Outside the shop itself you could see an old scary man shaking his head constantly while he held a lantern in one hand and a head in the other. And the entrance was a big black cat! 

The sales people were really helpful every time we went there. And it helped that they were dressed up as some weird character or the other.

Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

If you are not sure whether you are definitely in love or not, if mundane practicality is interfering with your romantic side, read this book. Find out what a simple decision of choosing practicality over gut-wrenching true love can lead to.

Catherine and Heathcliff’s love for each other was nothing pretty or mushy. In fact, it was as hard as the rocks in the moors where they grew up together. But it was true. Catherine says it best in the following excerpt:

“If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it.—My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”

This was Emily Bronte’s only book and a masterpiece immediately. This is a gothic novel about a gypsy Heathcliff adopted into a family but mistreated by his foster brother. And when Catherine chooses Linton over him because of his low stature, he wreaks revenge on all after returning rich and educated. Catherine and Heathcliff are unforgettable as characters. The entire novel has a creepiness that makes you watch over the shoulder. Whether its little Catherine asking to be let in, in Lockwood’s dream or when Heathcliff fervently wishes that Catherine would wake from her death in torment and haunt him!

Scariest and Non-scariest Movies

How much have we hankered after the thrills of a horror movie? I remember when I was a kid, rarely ever was there a “Raat,” or a “Nightmare on Elm” on TV, that too only late night. I could never get permission for that. But did that stop us? We stole in tapes that were so gone in quality that the print was scarier than the plot. And we asked the older kids to relate the stories detail by detail. And then we couldn’t sleep at night as our imagination worked overtime when we saw a shadow, or when the wind knocked against the window.

So, in a way, horror movies are a big part of growing up. So, I thought I’ll compile a top five listing of the best and the worst horror movies in Hollywood and Bollywood that have helped form our opinion about the unknown. So here goes.

Five Best Bollywood Horror Movies

Makdee

In an industry where kids movies are synonymous with loud slapstick comedies, this movie comes as a fresh change. Shabana Azmi’s make-up is flawless. And although lots of people didn’t like the fact that their thrill gets busted in the end, I thought it is a good lesson for every child that you can’t tell about some things until you prod them. Shweta Prasad is so natural, and she captures the various moods of two children commendably. No wonder she won the Indian National Film Award. The movie’s portrayal of a girl child in a village may not be entirely true of every Indian village, but Chunni gives every girl hope.

Bhootnath

This movie might feel like a children’s movie in the beginning, but as you discover that the core message of the movie is to not leave your parents and go to the US, that myth shatters. But that comes towards the end. Before that, you can enjoy the chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and the cute Aman Siddiqui. You will remember this duo from the Rin Advanced ad. Juhi Chawla is not behind with her typical wide eyed expressions and well-timed gasps. The story being based on “The Ghost of Canterville,” the movie is hardly scary though.

Darna mana hai

The good thing in this movie is that there are six stories to choose from. So you are bound to like some of them. I liked the twist in “No Smoking,” when Saif too starts behaving exactly like Boman Irani, ending with Tom and Jerry music. Another one that creeped me out was “The Ghostly Lift.” Vivek Oberoi with his hollow eyes sends a chill down my spine. Raghuveer Yadav going insane with fear in “Homework” is another one that made a mark on my memory.

Mahal

The fact that this movie was made in the year 1949 itself gives me the heebie-jeebies. I watched this movie a few years ago and the atmosphere gets to you. The “Aayega aayega” song can haunt you till the end of your days. And in spite of the explanation in the end, the tragedy remains heart breaking. Ashok Kumar looks good in his obsession for Kamini and Madhubala seduces effectively as usual.

Bhago Bhoot

This movie is one of those rare children movies which are without gimmicks and fresh. If you are a fan of children’s fantasy films like me, you should watch this Children’s Film Society produced movie. It’s a simple story about a village kid with a secret ghost friend. Now here is one ghost movie you can allow your child to watch!

Five Best Hollywood Horror Movies

Sleepy Hollow

A mix of science and supernatural, this movie comes with a compelling plot, superb make-up and spine chilling special effects. My heart hammered when I saw the headless horseman gallop for his kill. And of course, commendable jobs by Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci and Christopher Walken. Apart from the horror, I also love the touch of humour when Depp keeps fainting at the sight of blood.

The Others

Super chills from this one! This is exactly the kind of horror movie that gets my goose! I don’t like cannibalistic zombies or pale faced ghosts with disgusting make-up. I like subtlety in horror and this movie is full of subtle suggestions of another presence.

Sixth Sense

A kid seeing dead people and no one believing him. Imagine being that kid and you will know why this movie is on my list. Apart from the horror, the friendship between Bruce Willis and the kid is amazing.

Casper

With his big bright eyes and bald white head, Casper wins your heart as soon as you see him. So what if he is a ghost. And its heart breaking to see him in love but unable to even touch Kat, played by Christina Ricci.

Paranormal Activity

I have only seen the last scene of this movie and my advice to you is, “don’t watch it.” The fact that the movie is shot with a handy cam makes you look around you every time you wake up in the night!

Five Worst Bollywood Horror Movies

Veerana

One of the most coveted movies from my childhood and I was never allowed to watch it. And thank God! Not that it could have scared a hair on my head, the movie is full of creaking door joints and the typical “aa..aa..aa.” Very Ramsey. 

Bees Saal Baad

The first scene of this blockbuster horror flick of 1985 starts with a song, being danced to by Dimple Kapadia, also our ‘bhootni,’ by the way. And I had tears of laughter when I saw her hand extend to get the hammer. Can’t believe I have begged to watch this movie.

Darna Mana Hai

Well, these are the three I didn’t like. It was too predictable that Sohail Khan was the ghost of Antara Malli’s husband. And people turning into apples? Please… And the last scene for Aaftaab is funny!

Krishna Cottage

A bunch of kids from college already talking about marriage and one of them is a reincarnation. How many times do we have to see this story? And when do these kids get time to study?

Raaz

The songs of this movie still haunt me. Every panwala, buswala tormented me by playing them over and over again. I liked “What Lies Beneath,” but this Hindi version with the tantrik is unbearable.

Five Worst Hollywood Horror Movies

I Know What You Did Last Summer

If this were a ghost movie, it would be much more believable. But since its not, they should explain at the end how the fisherman with the hook manages to be everywhere and gets away with it.

Friday 13^th

This is one more of those movies where young, virile people start getting killed by a real person who acts like a supernatural being. Sorry, doesn’t work for me!

The Village

A village full of people missed by the government, that too US. Unlikely! And when the monsters that freak you out turn out to be costumes, I lost interest.

Event Horizon

The only way this haunted space ship and crazy astronauts scare me is when I think of them working daily in NASA!  

Devil’s Tomb

There is a special team of trained soldiers, a science lab in a desert all they can come up with is priests covered with boils! The plot is soooo bad!