Christmas on a Great Street

The glitzy street has been ranked among the Top 10 in Frommers World's Best Holiday Lights: 10 Decorated Cities and Lonely Planet's Top 10 Christmas Markets of the World.  

Orchard Road was also recently ranked the most beautiful avenue in the world by French agency Presence. 

The First Manger Scene (Krippenszene)

(Lk 2:11-12) "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Saint Francis of Assisi who first popularized the Christmas manger, the first nativity scene, as a way to make the Christmas season a time of peace and goodwill.

Wanting to see how Christ was born with his own eyes, in 1224, Saint Francis came up with the idea of creating a “living” recreation of the birth of Jesus, as a way to bring the Christmas spirit to the local villagers. It is believed that local shepherds, guarding their flocks outside the small Italian town of Greccio, inspired him. Saint Francis had real people dressed in biblical robes, and real animals positioned outside a cave on the outskirts of Greccio. In the manager was a life sized wax figure of the infant Jesus.

Saint Francis urged the people to rejoice in the season of Christ’s birth and put hatred from their hearts. Over time the presepio, as it was called in Italy, grew in popularity. Other towns began featuring them and soon people had individual nativity scenes in their own homes. Wealthy families hired famous sculptors to make their nativity scenes. One of the most famous nativity scenes in Italy is displayed at in the Basilica of Saint Cosmos & Damian in Rome. Originally built in Naples during the 17th Century, it measures an impressive 45 by 20 feet and features hundreds of wooden figurines.

Nativity Scenes around the World
Not surprisingly, the use of a Christmas nativity scene quickly spread throughout Western Europe. In France it was referred to as a Christmas Crèche, while in German speaking areas it was called a Kribbe. Despite the growing popularity of Christmas trees throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, the nativity scene remained the central focus of Christmas celebrations in Catholic areas. As Catholicism grew world wide, so did the use of the Nativity scene. In Spanish speaking areas it is called a nacimiento and is a prominent part of Christmas traditions in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.
The First Christmas Carols
Along with his living nativity scene, Saint Francis sought the help of music to teach his congregation about the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Tristam Coffin in his book, The Book of Christmas Folklore, Saint Francis is credited with singing the very first Christmas carols, by adding religious lyrics to everyday tunes. The result was the Italian lauda, which was incredibly popular for the next two hundred years.

The Christmas Tree

The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time.

CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS
King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.
The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrived, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.
The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.
Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring.
Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

FROM GERMAN SPEAKING COUNTRIES

In German speaking countries most of the Christmas customs, songs, pine trees and hand blow glass ornaments originated.
It is interesting how these traditions traveled around the world. Most probably England was the 1st country outside central Europe. Queen Victoria often visited relatives in Germany in the town of Coburg and while there she fell in love with a young Prince Albert. After they got married they returned to England to raise their family.
The tree that Price Albert provided his family was admired by all in England. It was decorated in the finest of hand blown glass ornaments. Since everyone liked the Queen they copied her Christmas customs including the Christmas tree and ornaments.

A F.W. Woolworth brought the glass ornament tradition to the United States in 1890. From 1870's to 1930's, Germans made the finest molds for making ornaments with nearly 5,000 different molds at the time. At the turn of the century there were over one hundred small cottage glass blowing workshops in Europe. Today only two respected German factory teams are capable of producing ornaments to the precise specifications of the Christopher Radko collection.
During the hay day of turn of the century ornament making, almost all ornaments were made in Lauscha, a small town nested in the Thuringian mountains. After the war, however, glass ornament production declined. Many of the craftsmen left for West Germany. Quantity rather than quality, was the Communist management philosophy. Some old molds fell into disrepair and many others were left to collect dust or were lost.In the 1960's it was fashionable to have an Aluminum tree and all the same shape and color ornaments. Many threw away the old ornaments from Germany. It was in the 1980's that Christopher Radko brought back the old art of making the glass ornaments for all to enjoy."
From the book "Christopher Radko, The First Decade"

Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt.....

...erst brennen 2, dann 3, dann 4,..............dann steht Santa Erich vor der Tuer .......

Ho, ho, ho, ho

What would be the start of advent without a celebration at the Wuerstelstand. And because of the cooler weather we had to have Gluehwein.

Santa Erich (Miraculix the Druid) brewed his secret mixture of wine and herbs

Our chemist Dr. Claus (one of the elves) was Santa Erich's helper

" I hope it doesn't explode.........."
Locals stunned about what's happening now at crazy Ang Moh's kiosk

Santa Erich's elves

IT'S "OFFICIALLY" CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN

The lights are on. This year Singapore is celebrating the sweetest Xmas in the tropics.

The celebrations, which mark the 25th anniversary this year, are held from Nov 15 to Jan 2 all around Singapore, the main events however take place from Orchard Road all the way to Marina Bay.
The “Sweet Family” who lives in Christmas Town and runs a Sweet Shop will celebrate this joyous season with visitors and locals on the famous shopping belt which has been transformed into a charming and miraculous candy wonderland with dazzling lights and flickering decorations. The light-up was again conceptualized by Singapore’s singer, song writer and Creative Director Dick Lee and features a landscape decorated with colorful gumdrops, candy cane street lamps, delectable cupcake houses and giant doughnuts.
Besides the "official" decorations shopping malls try to follow suit and set up their own
Shaw Centre

Huge colorful Xmas parcels

Tanglin Mall

Can you believe it?

Streets are being transformed into a candy land dripping with gumdrops, liquorice, candy canes and jelly beans.

Strolling along Orchard Road yesterday many activities there reminded my that the most festive season of the year is just around the corner and 2008 is in its final stage.

I do understand that the Xmas lights on Orchard take some to set up to be ready for the official "light up" on November 15, but is it really necessary for shopping centres to being ready before the official start, already in 1st week of November ? I doubt it!

It seems to become earlier every single year. Are shops that desperate for business or are they just "Kiasu" (as we say here) a Hokkien adjective literally meaning, "afraid of losing" since everyone wants to be first to catch customers attention which will lead into sales.

Ngee Ann City Christmas Tree, already lit up up since last week.

Christmas market in Ngee Ann City.

I hope shops together with Singapore Tourism Board one day will think about the way decorating the city and shop windows, getting away from the boring "same old, same old" and have more artistic decorations instead, "unique" as the Singapore slogan to attract more tourists for Xmas shopping.

I saw a beautiful example from Paris, where the theme is "Nordic fairytale, a world of ice and magical Christmas lights"! Beautiful I must say, and obviously a big hit with tourists - and locals!

Christmas in the Tropics

The magical Christmas extravaganza is back and on untill 2 January 2008.

With a host of exciting events including festive performances, entertainment events, shopping specials, concerts and dance parties, as well as the popular brilliant display of lights at Orchard Road and Marina Bay. “Christmas in the Tropics" is a major tourism attraction for Singapore according to the Singapore Tourism Board. This Christmas spectacle comes with a variety of events from shopping to dining and entertainment.

A survey shows that one in five visitors last year have planned their trips to coincide with Singapore’s Christmas celebration and the Tourism Board is hoping that this year would not be any different.

With an amazing Christmas Light-up which by the way has always been the visitors favourite, Singapore wants to create the most memorable Christmas experience for them.

Themed “A Fairytale Christmas” this year it stretches over 3 km from Orchard Road (including Scotts Road), Tanglin Road to Plaza Singapura and the Marina Bay area from Hotel Rendezvous to Raffles Avenue. This area has been transformed into a bewitching Crystal Forest decked with magnificent chandeliers, magic harps, glittering jewels, dazzling lights in red, gold and white, and even a magical carousel. Dick Lee, Singapore's famous composer, who is the Creative Director for the second consecutive year, has conceptualized this fantasy land for the unfolding of a fairytale inspired by the Nutcracker Suite, which tells the story of handsome Prince Noel who goes in search of his missing true love, Princess Ballerina, through the Crystal Forest.
Apart from the Light-Up, another key highlight is the "Celebrate Christmas in Singapore" event, with the theme ‘Christmas – It’s All About Love’. Visitors can look forward to Christmas-themed performances nightly at various locations along Orchard Road as well as a colourful parade of floats from 15 to 24 December.
More information about all events can be found at the Singapore Tourism Board Website.

Since the light up people are storming the City Centre to see the lights and many of them have already started a serious Christmas shopping spree.

"Rudi" and colleagues galloping through Singapore's sky
Paragon Shopping Centre has always been a highlight with their beautiful deco

Paragon Starbucks "Santa's" are ready to round up the Xmas experience for Tourists and Locals
On the walkway in front of Takashimaya a group of "Red Indians" are playing their folks songs. Singapore a melting pot of cultures.
A 3 storey Xmas tree in the lobby of Takashimaya is one of the most photographed tress every year...............Teddy's Christmas Tree and clothes
..............Masses of shopper at Centre Point Shopping Centre.
................ And the Taxi queue
................A festive decoration where ever you go


........Last but not least Raffels City and famous Raffles Hotel
There would be so much more to cover about Singapore's Xmas spectacle but you need time for searching all the locations. For me it was a long nights walk to see all these nicely decorated places. Stop by at our Wuerstelstand Blog for updates and to see more click the picture below.

Christmas Light-up in Singapore