All things related to Christmas!

Some of the key decorations during Christmas are: Snowman, Christmas tree and the crib.

This 'cool' snowman is made of plastic cups. Look closely! It is kept near the crib placed infront of 'Pando' (Pandva) chapel in Aquem.

The decorated Christmas tree at Luven's house

Crib 

The guiding star

Crib spotting in Margao!

Best wishes to all my blog readers for a Wonderful New year 2016!!

Last week, we went around Margao and visited some beautiful cribs depicting the nativity scenes. It was indeed a pleasure to watch the visual depiction of the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, displayed creatively in various styles by different groups.

St. Anthony Boys of Agalli always make a wonderful theme based setting for Christmas, amidst farms in Agalli, here is a glimpse:

A glimpse of the crib setting made by Angel Boys of Gogol:

Beautiful crib made by Luven and Stezia at their house:

Festive fervor in Powai!

Soon after Christmas, this December, I visited Powai and was indeed highly impressed with the decorations done in Hiranandani Estate. Take a peek…

The streets decorated in varied hues !                           Image courtesy: Bhushan

 

Sweet trees at Hotel Meluha

Ginger bread houses at Hotel Meluha

Decoration at the Mumbai airport

Christmas facts!

Did you know # 11

The Christmas season has set in and we look forward towards celebrating this festival of joy and celebration on December 25.

Here are some enlightening facts related to Christmas:

1)     Thomas Nast was the cartoonist who created the traditional image of Santa Claus.

2)     There are nine reindeer's in the sleigh of Santa Claus.

3)     Santa Claus is associated with Saint Nicholas of Myra. The birthplace of this saint is Demra in Lycia, a part of modern Turkey.

4)     There is a placed called ‘Christmas’ in Orange county in USA.

5)     There is an island in the Indian Ocean, called Christmas Island.

6)     The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace) it is known as the ‘Flower of the Holy Night’

The 'traditional' Christmas flowers

7)     In France, Christmas is called ‘Noel’

8)     The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531

9)     In 1937, the first postage stamp to commemorate Christmas was issued in Austria

10)Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards in 1915, five years after the company was founded.

11)The popular Christmas song ‘Jingle Bells’ was composed in 1857 by James Pierpoint and was originally called ‘One-Horse Open Sleigh.

Christmas festivities in Mumbai!

Life sized Santa

For the first time, I witnessed the festive frenzy in Mumbai, during this time of the year. Many stalls have been set up and have a variety of  Christmas decorations for sale.
Also, many of the hotels were all decorated to its glory!

A sneak peak into the festivities in Powai, Mumbai.

Hey Santa

Neatly packed decorations and shimmer

More to adore the Tree!

Jingles

Foldable Christmas trees.

Carol singing at Meluha, The Fern, Powai. I enjoyed singing along with them, a couple of carols.

The Christmas flower

White Christmas tree

Ready for celebrations!

The lighted Tree!

'We are celebrating the feast of the Eternal Birth which God has borne and never ceases to bear in all eternity...But if it takes not place in me, what avails it? Everything lies in this - that it should take place in me.
- Meister Eckhart, 13th century Christian mystic