How did a typical Christmas celebration unfold in 80s Dubai? For a small bunch of Karama-based NRIs, it was marked by a series of annual walks that evoked a sense of joy, warmth and camaraderie.

Growing up in this era sans any digital enticements made us naturally inclined towards the outdoors, especially when winter came around and a magical feeling of Christmas hung in the chilly air. We longed to be outside, and the prospect of a late night stroll through empty roads and past silent buildings was exceptionally exciting.

Enchanted by the glow of decorative stars that lit up balconies across Karama and snug in comfy woolens, we would embark on our annual walk home in the early hours of December 25, after midnight mass at St Mary’s Church.

Cutting across Dubai landmarks The Indian High School, Indian Sports Club and Al Maktoum Stadium before navigating Karama Complex, we headed at a leisurely pace towards Pioneer Building, where a late-night feast of hot beverages, plum cake and other traditional goodies awaited us.

Neighbours, family friends and colleagues from the same locality, along with their kids, came together for this annual Christmas ritual, in a true small-town spirit that Dubai embodied at the time. We were quite oblivious to the chatter of adults as we skipped, ran and swapped completely fake ghost stories, the novelty of those winter night walks enduring for years to come.

Spotting friends we knew and giving them a shout-out was especially thrilling, as was passing the school’s silent classrooms and knowing we were not due there for at least a day or so.

There were times when we missed midnight service, attending the Christmas morning mass instead. The ensuing walk home in daylight, perhaps with a different motley crew of acquaintances, entailed delights like a stopover at Modern Bakery to stock up on Christmas sweets and savouries.

Sometimes en route, a tantalizing glimpse of King of Toys, a gigantic toy store in Karama Complex, or a cane furniture shop that also stocked old books (this is where my reading journey began), would instantly remind us of unopened presents waiting under the tree at home. Would we, at the culmination of this wonderful walk, get that prized book or toy we wished for?

There were other memorable walks, big and small, that the Christmas season in Dubai inevitably included. Visiting friends and relatives who lived nearby, shopping for little gifts across Karama Complex, browsing stunning decorations at Wicker and adjoining shops, all involved getting dressed up and heading out on foot.

As we grew into our teens and became a little more adventurous where walking was concerned, diversions were made into popular stores like Hallmark or Carlton Cards, to spend pocket money on Christmas messages for friends and teachers, or even a special someone.

Today, Dubai’s vibrant festive atmosphere has made it a top Christmas travel destination, attracting visitors from around the world. And, while the community feeling that drew like-minded people together for cosy celebrations has endured, a nostalgic yearning for Christmas past remains. – Illustration by freepik – Enid Parker is a writer based in Dubai