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It’s that time of year when the streets of Kolkata sparkle with Christmas lights, the scent of freshly baked cakes fills the winter air, and people are filled with excitement as they prepare to ring in the new year. “Christmas and New Year bring back childhood memories of enjoying freshly baked cakes from Maa, visiting Victoria Memorial and Alipur Zoo with Baba, and exchanging gifts and greeting cards during school functions, which was a tradition at my missionary school,” recalls Sreemoe Biswas, a resident of Agarpara. She adds, “These days, it’s replaced by outings to Bow Barracks and Park Street with my office team, where we enjoy lunch, pleasant conversations, cakes, and a cup of coffee.”

Debra Saldanha, who runs Saldanha Bakery with her daughter Alisha, took time out of her busy schedule to talk about the winter holiday season. Located in a small lane off Nawab Abdur Rahman Street, the bakery has been serving Kolkata for over 90 years, delighting customers year-round with its eclectic offerings. Debra says, “For many, it’s a tradition to take our cakes, passed down from generation to generation. Even during Christmas and New Year, our loyal customers continue this tradition. We’ve gained many new customers too, thanks to word-of-mouth publicity and the goodwill surrounding our products. Some even travel from far-off places like Hooghly, Kharagpur, and Chandannagar to pick up their Christmas cakes as part of their family rituals.” Talking about the bakery’s special offerings during the holiday season, she adds, “We have blueberry muffins, cherry muffins, and strawberry muffins. The British tea-time cake is especially popular this year. But our all-time favorite is the walnut cake, though at this time of year, everyone comes for the traditional Christmas rich fruit cake. This year, we also introduced a special gift pack in a tin, which has been very popular.”

This year, to celebrate the Kolkata Christmas Festival, in addition to the iconic illuminations at Park Street, Allen Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Bow Barracks, several prominent landmarks across West Bengal will be lit up. This includes churches in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Asansol, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Chandannagar, Bandel, Krishnanagar, Jhargram, Purulia, Baruipur, Alipurduar, Howrah, and Bidhannagar. Shatadru Bhattacharjee, an IT professional living on the outskirts of Kolkata, shares his excitement for the season. “As a father, I’m thrilled to be part of the Christmas celebrations with my newborn son. We’ll visit Park Street, and I’m planning to capture some photographs of the area, as photography is my passion. Around New Year, I’ll attend parties to catch up with old friends, and I’m looking forward to spending quality time with them. So, the holidays are well-planned.”

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, a popular café on Park Street, is buzzing with activity on Sunday mornings. Known for its cozy seating area and exotic beverage offerings, it’s a favorite spot for coffee lovers. Sneha Agarwal, the HR manager at the café, shares insights on the busy holiday season. “We see a lot of customers during Christmas and New Year. People gather here to celebrate, and we serve freshly made hot and iced beverages, along with bakes, cookies, and cruffins. Our beverage menu includes Espresso, Americano, Cortado, and Mocha, with Espresso and Hot Chocolate being particularly popular during the winter. We also serve croissants and cakes, with the Blueberry Cheesecake Brioche Bun and Plum Cake Pure Harmony being favorites among our patrons. Our café places customer satisfaction at the center of everything, which is why visitors often stay for hours to enjoy their breakfasts and lunches.”

Rashi Singh, a resident of Tollygunge, plans to celebrate this New Year with a trip to Mandarmani with her friends. She shares, “For me, New Year is all about picnics, pizzas, and pav bhajis. For the last two years, I’ve been hanging out with friends at resorts during the New Year. I don’t want to miss out on the winter vacations when there’s so much to explore in our own city.”

Nisha Prabhakar, the owner of Cook Art, a local cake shop and bakery, talks about the festive season. “Our customers love plum cakes, fruit cakes, and customized cream cakes with a Christmas theme. Even our muffins and pastries are popular if they have a festive touch. For New Year, we receive orders for large cream cakes to celebrate at parties and gatherings in residential complexes,” she concludes.

As Kolkatans gear up for the festivities, the city’s vibrant food, lights, and outings make it a perfect time to celebrate the holiday spirit.