By Patricia H. Kushlis
Days before I left Singapore on November 12, the Christmas
decorations were already up and lit. The
lower level of the Ngee
Ann City
shopping complex on Orchard Road
had turned into a Christmas Markt – sans the real snow and freezing
temperatures of its far older European counterparts. Meanwhile, a towering,
larger than life Christmas tree greeted shoppers and gawkers in the Mall’s lobby.
But what stood out
even more was the lighted neon greeting strung across North Bridge Road wishing everyone a
“glitzy Christmas.” This blazing banner stretched from Raffles City
to the outdoor shopping arcade attached – but separate from the Raffles Hotel –
Singapore’s
most venerable landmark. The only thing
that stood between me and an otherwise unobstructed view of the “glitzy” greeting
was the palm tree on the sidewalk – but I couldn’t very well dash into a busy street
at night to photograph the sign and expect to live to tell the story.
I still find it hard to envision Christmas in the tropical
heat and humidity that engulfs a city near the equator – but there it is. After all, Jesus was not exactly born in snowy
climes. His birth was celebrated with frankincense and myrrh amidst the palms -
not hot mulled cider, Irish coffee or eggnog beside a fire – and the three
Magi, so the story goes, arrived on camels not reindeer or accompanying Santa
in his sleigh.
So what’s wrong with wishing
everyone a Glitzy Christmas in Southeast Asia’s glitziest shopping Mecca just because most Singaporeans
aren’t Christians? Who said Christmas
can’t be for everyone: Certainly not the merchants. Besides there are churches as well as mosques
and Buddhist and Hindu temples in this port city of predominantly Buddhists (42.5%)
even though no religion can claim to be a majority.
Christmas in Manila
When we lived in Manila, a
very Christian country except for three restive Muslim provinces in the south,
Christmas lights and decorations festooned Makati – the main commercial center –
beginning in October. By the time
Christmas rolled around, the monsoon season’s hot and sticky heat had given way
to the “cool and dry season” – by far the most pleasant time of year.
For me, the best parts of a Manila Christmas
were the concerts that took place in the lobbies of major Makati hotels performed by
world class choruses from the city’s top universities. If there’s one thing Filipinos do well, it’s performance
in the western musical tradition and Christmas carols are as much a part
of their repertoire as lounge music, jazz and rock.
Back to a Rocky Mountain Christmas
This
year, however, it's back to the snowy, but hopefully sunny weather of
the southern Rockies. I will celebrate the holiday with extended
family in northern New Mexico. And yes, there is snow on the ground and ice in the driveway. We’ll take the Farelito Walk along Santa Fe's Canyon Road on Christmas
Eve, attend a concert by the Desert Chorale at the Basilica a couple of days earlier, ski, eat and just enjoy
the holiday at one of America’s
top tourist destinations.
Meanwhile, here’s
wishing you and yours “A Very Merry Glitzy Christmas” wherever you may be.
Photos of Singapore's Nge Ann City's Christmas tree and Glitzy Christmas greeting by PHKushlis, November 2009; Photo of the Santa Fe Plaza and Basilica by PHKushlis December 2007.