For Marathi families living across the globe, the holiday season is a beautiful time to blend tradition with heritage. While Christmas is a global celebration of joy and giving, it also offers a unique opportunity to practice Marathi in a way that feels natural and festive.
At Speak Marathi, we specialise in one on one customised spoken Marathi classes for NRIs and foreigners. Our focus is on helping you connect with your loved ones through language. This Christmas, why not surprise your family back home or your Marathi speaking in laws by adding a local touch to your celebrations?
Here are some simple and fun ways to bring Marathi into your Christmas festivities this year.
1. Send Festive Greetings in Marathi
Instead of the standard holiday card, why not write a message that hits closer to home? Even a small phrase in Devanagari or transliterated Marathi can make a huge impact on grandparents and extended family.
- Phrase to use: Tumhala ani tumchya parivarala Natalchya hardik shubhechha! (Hearty Christmas wishes to you and your family!)
- Context: Write this in your family WhatsApp group or on the gift tags for your relatives.
2. Name Your Festive Treats
Christmas is all about the food. Whether you are baking cookies or preparing a traditional roast, you can use these moments to teach your children Marathi vocabulary for the kitchen.
- Activity: As you cook, name the ingredients. Call the sugar saakhar, the milk doodh, and the final treats मिठाई (mithai) or khau.
- Context: It makes the kitchen a classroom without the pressure of a formal lesson.
3. Sing and Celebrate
Music is a universal language, but singing in Marathi adds a layer of cultural immersion that is hard to beat. You can find many Marathi carols or even translate simple lines of your favourite songs into Marathi to practice the rhythm and sounds of the language.
- Tip: Focus on the pronunciation of words like shanti (peace) and anand (joy) to keep your practice festive and meaningful.
4. Record a Video Message for Family
Since many NRIs cannot travel home for every holiday, a video message is the next best thing. Encourage your children to say a few lines in Marathi for their Aaji and Ajoba (grandparents).
- Example: Have the kids say, “Aamhi tumhala khup miss karto” (We miss you a lot).
- Impact: Hearing a grandchild speak their mother tongue is often the best Christmas gift a grandparent can receive.
5. Incorporate Marathi into Your New Year Resolutions
As Christmas leads into the New Year, it is the perfect time to commit to your language journey. Make a family resolution to spend fifteen minutes a day speaking only in Marathi.
Focus on Connection, Not Just Perfection
At Speak Marathi, we believe that the goal of learning a language is to strengthen family bonds. We don’t focus on the stress of the Devanagari script unless you specifically ask for it in your lesson plan. Our priority is getting you to a place where you can comfortably chat with your family back home during special moments like these.
If you want to make “Learning Marathi” a reality for your family this coming year, we are here to help.
Book a free demo session today and see how our one on one classes can make your next holiday celebration even more special.