Story behind the season

Chrisantha de Silva, popularly known as “CC” the front man of hard rock band Salvage shares a humble message for the season

What I look forward to most about Christmas is definitely the vacation and time with family and loved ones. Me, my mother and father’s birthdays fall extremely close to Christmas too.My family is Catholic/Christian. We celebrate Christmas and for as long as I can remember, it’s been a very family oriented affair. We attend Christmas day mass and visit close relatives for lunch and dinner.

I really can’t pinpoint to one Christmas memory from my childhood, but decorating the Christmas tree at home must be it. The child CC enjoyed Christmas more. Maybe because of the certainty of toys. Over the last few years, Christmas has seemed to sneak up on me pleasantly. It’s become more a time for rest and reflection than merry making! (Although the latter does still happen too).

Christmas begins for me with hearing carols and Christmas songs. I have a few friends who start very early. It’s almost as if Christmas doesn’t end for some of them. And I do love it when the weather gets a bit chilly in the good old tropical island.

I do love singing at whatever opportunity I get. Hence that’s what I would like to be doing. A few close friends and I, will get together to sing carols and have some mulled wine, close to Christmas day. My favourite Christmas memory goes back a few years. During Christmas 2010, my band Salvage, had the very first Rock-Orchestral Christmas Concert in Colombo. It was called Sanctus Nocte. Up to date, this has been the best spent Christmas for me!

At home my father makes sure the family spends some time reflecting on the birth of Jesus. This is good, as the core message of Christmas seems to get very diluted each year. On Christmas day I’ll be attending Christmas mass in the morning and then visit relatives.

The music appeals to me a lot. I absolutely love the Trans Siberian Orchestras rendition of Carols and Christmas songs. My favorites would be “Oh Holy Night” and “Mary Did You Know?”

The story behind the season is very important to me. People don’t have to be believers, but I do hope that everyone knows the story behind what they are celebrating.