MELAKA: It was a restrained family affair for most residents of the Portuguese Settlement here who spent Christmas day catching up with relatives and friends, while enjoying traditional local Portuguese delicacies.
It was in stark contrast to the very lively atmosphere on Christmas eve when the village, which had been transformed into a fairyland of decorations and lights, was packed with visitors.
A resident who lives along Jalan Theseira, Marina Linda Danker, 51 said she got up early in the morning to cook traditional Portuguese dishes for relatives and friends visiting in the afternoon.
Unlike others who spend the Christmas break on vacation, Marina prefers to be at her century-old traditional home to celebrate the festivities in a time-honoured fashion.
“It is an annual affair every Christmas, when I wake up at 7am to prepare traditional dishes for the family.
"This includes the must-haves curry debel and roasted chicken,” said Marina, who lives with her husband, six children, mother and a daughter-in-law.
Marina, who is a teacher, said Christmas celebrations at the settlement are about welcoming relatives from outside Melaka.
“My siblings and children all work and live in Melaka, but my cousins and my parents’ siblings as well as their children would travel from Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor just to be with the family here.
“Because it is Christmas, no matter how far away they are, they would come back to celebrate, even if it is just for a day or two.
“We only have four rooms in the house, with the ten of us. It gets cramped when relatives come back, sometimes in four families. Yet, we don’t mind it. Sleeping on the floor or not sleeping at all – we just enjoy the merriment together.
“I also welcome visits from my non-Christian friends for whom I order halal food,” she said.
Marina said her family would usually take leave from work from Dec 24 until the New Year.
“We will be celebrating Christmas until Dec 31 and have prayers to welcome the New Year,” she added.