Dear ABCDlady Readers,

Although we are Sikh, the 25th of December was always a special day for my brothers and me while growing up. As children, it was the only day of year that we voluntarily woke up at the crack of dawn and rushed to the Christmas tree to see what Santa had brought us. As adults, we still get together as a family and share a meal. It always felt easy to get caught up in the holiday season in the U.S. and enjoy Christmas Day, even though we are not Christian.

With the holiday season underway, we discuss Christmas for the newest generation of Desis. We also meet Shubha and travel down memory lane with her, experiencing a Hindu-Christmas with her family. And we give you recipes for hot South Asian drinks—perfect for your own family get-togethers.

This month, be sure to check out the last part in our series of stories of South Asian immigrants. Meet Harbans Lal, who originally set out to Brazil for a short-term job but later started a life with his family in the U.S. Lal is a trailblazer in more than one way—he has now embarked on a project to bring a little bit of India back to the U.S. Read his story here.

If you have ties to the D.C. or Toronto area, you may have heard of crime sprees targeting South Asian homes for gold. What you may not have heard is the large number of cases in other areas throughout the U.S. as well. Read about the issue and learn what you can do to keep your own community safe.

How many South Asians females do you know who play the tabla for a living? Sejal Kukadia is a tabla master who grew up outside of Albany. Discovering her interest in the tabla, she spent the next four years training full-time in India to master the instrument and is now one of the only female professional tabla players in the U.S. Her journey was an interesting one—click here to read more!

How can vegetarians get protein from a South Asian diet? Does a South Asian diet lead to many common diseases? Which South Asian foods can a diabetic patient eat? We pose these questions and others to our dietician/wellness coach and have some answers for you.

Ready for the holiday soirees coming your way? Our Desi Diva gives you tips for looking unforgettable at your holiday parties. Learn how to elevate your best feature—your eyes!

This month, we also answer the “why hasn’t he called” question and talk to someone dating a guy with an H-1 VISA, leaving her family wondering whether he’s looking for marriage only to secure his citizenship.

We hope you get to relax over the holidays—how ever you celebrate them—and we will see you in the new year!

Sincerely,

Navdeep Kathuria
Editor-in-Chief, ABCDlady