by Maria, age 9, describes how Christmas cookies are made in Goa, about the Arabian Sea, and Goa’s Christian history
Dear Santa,
Hello from Panaji. My name is Maria and I am 9 years old. Every December our whole kitchen turns into a proper bakery, with my mother, my aunties, and my grandmother all working together for days making tin after tin of sweets to share with every neighbour on our street.
My first question is: how are Christmas cookies traditionally made here in Goa, India?
My second question is geography: what sea does Goa sit on?
My third question is from school: why does Goa have such a large Christian population compared to most of India?
I left you a plate of our own kalkals, and a slice of bebinca, a layered cake.
Love, Maria, age 9, Panaji, Goa, India
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Maria, that plate of kalkals and bebinca might be one of the finest tins of treats on my entire route, thank you very much. Now, to describe your family’s wonderful tradition, and your other questions.
How are Christmas cookies traditionally made in Goa?
Goan Christmas baking is famous across India, built around a whole collection of traditional sweets. Kalkals are small curled dough shapes, deep fried and dipped in sugar syrup until they turn glossy and crisp. Rose cookies, called kuswar or achappam, are made by dipping a special flower-shaped iron mould into batter and frying it into delicate, crispy flowers. Marzipan sweets shaped like tiny fruits, and a rich layered cake called bebinca, made from many thin layers baked one at a time, round out the collection. Families often begin baking weeks in advance, exactly as yours does, so there is plenty to share with neighbours throughout the season.
What sea does Goa sit on?
Goa sits along the Arabian Sea, on India’s western coast, known for its long, sandy beaches and warm, tropical climate.
Why does Goa have such a large Christian population?
Goa was a Portuguese colony for over four hundred years, from the 1500s until 1961, and during that long period, Portuguese missionaries introduced Christianity, which took deep root in the local culture, blending with existing Goan traditions to create the distinctive customs, food, and celebrations still cherished there today.
Save me a plate for next year too, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
