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This blog is for a school project and the information provided is correct at time of blogging.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas

Christmas is finally just around the corner!
Join us here in Singapore in this festive season or you are bound to regret!

Christmas, on the 25th of December every year, is observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though it is not the actual date of which Jesus is born, early Christians believe that it is the date Jesus is conceived on, 9 months before his birth (according to ancient Roman calender). Despite the fact that it is a Christian holiday, this festive season is celebrated even by non-Christians. The Christmas customs at the point of origin included Christmas trees, Mistletoes, Christmas presents, as well as Santa Clause. These customs has hardly been changed, as most of them are still practiced today. Modern customs of this festival will include christmas trees, gift exchanging, card exchanging, church celebrations, caroling etcetera. Children will also put up their Christmas socks, believing that Father Christmas will leave them gifts in their socks. Christmas will be celebrated for 12 days in the month of December every year, starting on the 25th of December. As Singapore is a multiracial country with people of different religion, Christmas is also celebrated in Singapore.

Celebration methods in Singapore may vary from individual to individual, however, it is celebrated mainly by gifts and cards exchanging. Christians will also attend church for a church celebrations and families will come together for dinner.

With a different theme every year, this year's theme is 'A Starlit Christmas'. Christmas decorations will also be put up along Orchard Road in Singapore, lighting up our busiest shopping district with colorful lights and beautiful trees. The first light up will be held in mid November every year that will only be removed in early January. On the 20th of November 2010, there was a Switch On Ceremony outside ION Orchard, as the main switch was switched on by none other than our President, President S R Nathan.

Here are some pictures that shows the Christmas lightings for the year 2010.


Exterior of the gigantic Christmas tree outside ION Orchard


Interior of the gigantic Christmas tree.







Outside Tangs Shopping Center





Outside The Heeren Shopping mall


Decorations along the road


Decorations along the road


It is a public holiday in Singapore and companies often held sessions in which employees can exchange gifts, the day before the Christmas holiday. Despite the fact that Christmas is a public holiday, local malls might be having their annual year-end sales. Free public performances, such as caroling or dance performances, will be carried out in malls at times. Apart from those, there will also be Christmas Count Downs, held at various places on Christmas Eve. People gather together to count down to Christmas at various places in town.

So join us here in Singapore to celebrate this season of giving, Merry Christmas!

References:
Wikipedia
Some photos are taken from: YourSingapore
Copyright © 2010 Singapore Tourism Board (and/or its suppliers), Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729. All rights reserved.

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