Christmas in Kerala is not just a festival – it is an experience woven from centuries of Christian heritage, coastal culture, and warm southern hospitality. Through the month of December, the state transforms into a landscape of glowing stars, choir-filled midnight masses, fragrant bakeries, and festive homes offering traditional delicacies like appam, stew, and plum cake. Whether you’re drawn to the energy of the Fort Kochi Christmas Carnival (14 December–2 January), the serenity of Alleppey’s backwaters, or the misty charm of Munnar’s tea gardens, celebrating Christmas in Kerala offers a rare combination of spirituality, scenery, and gastronomy.
This unstumbled guide explores Kerala’s Christmas traditions, foods, and the best places to visit – designed to help you plan an authentic and memorable festive holiday.
Kerala Christmas Traditions: How The State Celebrates
The Christmas Star (Kuthu Veykkal)
Homes, churches, and streets in Kerala display bright paper stars from early December. The star represents the Star of Bethlehem and marks the beginning of the season.
Crib-Making & Community Displays
Church parishes and neighbourhoods create elaborate nativity cribs using clay figures, hay, coconut leaves, lights, and creative backgrounds. Many towns host crib competitions.
Midnight Mass In Heritage Churches
Christmas Eve mass is the spiritual centre of the festival. Well-known churches include:
- Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi
- St. George Forane Church, Edappally
- St. Mary’s Basilica, Ernakulam
- Vimalagiri Cathedral, Kottayam
Masses feature choirs, carols, lights, and traditional liturgical rituals.
Open House Traditions & Gifting
Kerala’s Christian households share sweets, wine, and meals with neighbours of all communities. Christmas gift boxes usually contain Kulkuls, Achappam, diamond cuts, homemade wine, and slices of plum cake.
Kerala Christmas Traditions and Food Feast (Must-Try Dishes)
Food is central to the Christmas celebration in Kerala, with both traditional breakfast dishes and lavish festive lunches.
Appam & Stew – The Classic Christmas Breakfast
A quintessential Kerala Christmas breakfast.
Appam and Stew Recipe Overview:
- Appam: fermented rice–coconut batter cooked into soft, lace-edged pancakes
- Stew: a mild coconut-milk curry with potatoes, carrots, and chicken or mutton flavoured with whole spices
Kerala Beef Fry / Duck Roast Christmas Feast
- Beef fry: slow-roasted with coconut chips, pepper, shallots, and curry leaves
- Duck roast: a festive favourite in Kuttanad and Kottayam, prepared with coconut milk and aromatic spices
Kerala Christmas Plum Cake & Homemade Wine
Most families soak dry fruits weeks in advance for plum cakes. Thalassery, known for the earliest bakeries in Kerala founded by Mambally Bapu in the 1880s, remains famous for authentic Christmas cakes.
Traditional Snacks: Kulkuls & Achappam
These crunchy snacks are staples in Christmas gift hampers and are prepared in almost every home.
Best Places To Visit In Kerala For Christmas Vacation
Here are the top destinations offering unique ways to celebrate the season.
Fort Kochi – Christmas Carnival & Midnight Mass
Fort Kochi is Kerala’s most vibrant Christmas and New Year destination.
Fort Kochi Christmas Carnival (2025 Dates): 14 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
Events include parades, street performances, art installations, beach games, concerts, heritage walks, and the iconic “Pappanji” burning at midnight on 31 December.
Key attractions:
- Midnight Mass at Santa Cruz Basilica
- Decorated streets around Princess Street
- Fort Kochi beach festivities and fairs
Alleppey – Backwaters Christmas Houseboat Stay
Ideal for a peaceful and scenic Christmas vacation. Expect candlelit dinners, Kerala festive meals, and tranquil cruising through the backwaters.
Best Time to Book Kerala Houseboat for Christmas: Early October to mid-November for the best boats and rates.
Munnar – Hill Station Festivities & Tea Plantation Stays
Munnar offers cool December weather, mist, and cosy festive atmospheres.
Common experiences include:
- Bonfires
- Special Christmas buffets
- Live music at resorts
- Sunrise walks through tea estates
Ideal for families and honeymooners.
Kottayam – Traditional Christmas Heartland
Kottayam has some of Kerala’s most historic Christian communities and ornate churches.
Major churches include:
- Vimalagiri Cathedral
- St. Mary’s Forane Church, Athirampuzha
- St. George Church, Puthuppally
Expect choir-led masses, decorated streets, and classic duck roast meals.
Kovalam – Beachside Christmas & New Year Celebrations
Kovalam offers a relaxed beach atmosphere with Christmas dinners, lights along Lighthouse Beach, cultural shows, and New Year fireworks. Perfect for those who prefer coastal celebrations.
Kerala in December: Weather & Travel Tips
Weather Overview
- Temperature: 22–30°C
- Hill stations: 10–20°C at night
- Rainfall: Minimal
- Skies: Clear and pleasant
Travel Tips
- Book hotels and houseboats 6–8 weeks early
- For Munnar and Wayanad, carry a light jacket
- Reserve Christmas Eve dinners in advance
- Confirm midnight mass timings with the parish
- Expect traffic congestion near Fort Kochi on major carnival days
Kerala Christmas Tour Packages for Families
Typical itineraries include:
- 2 nights in Munnar
- 1 night in Thekkady
- 1–2 nights in Alleppey (houseboat or resort)
- 1–2 nights in Kochi (for Carnival and sightseeing)
- Private cab, sightseeing, breakfast, and optional Christmas Eve gala dinners
Suitable for family groups and multi-generational travel.
Summing Up
Christmas in Kerala brings together rich traditions, festive food, illuminated churches, and stunning landscapes. Whether you join the lively Fort Kochi Christmas Carnival, spend a quiet holiday on an Alleppey backwater houseboat, or enjoy a misty retreat in Munnar, Kerala offers diverse and meaningful ways to celebrate the season.
