Year in and year out, the Christmas decorations at Orchard Road never ceases to amaze me. Despite this year having experienced a recession, it still seems like the organizers pulled all the stops to make sure that this year’s decorations will be better than the last one. Although Singapore is not a majority Christian country, it makes sure that Christmas is celebrated just as lively as any other country in the world, and then some more.
It would be noteworthy that the decorations along Orchard road do not have any obviously religious meaning to them. Manger scenes, practically mandatory in Christmas decorations in the Philippines are nowhere to be found except in churches. This was to protect the relgious harmony that the country has painstakingly built over the years. This year, non-religious Christmas decorations, if there was such a thing, continue to adorn the premier shopping street that is Orchard Road. Balls, Christmas tress, reindeer and of course Santa Claus loom large.
Since mostly glitzy shopping malls line the whole stretch of Orchard Road, each one of the malls try to outdo each other. Some of thems look great, while others prefer to keep it simple. Two of these malls in particular 313@Somerset and the Mandarin Gallery managed to open in time for the holidays are are more or less already decorated as if they have been there forever.
But alas the beauty and grandeur that Orchard Road has also draws in a huge crowd of people every night and it was difficult to get photos of the decorations without someone in the way. Patience will get you nowhere here since there will always be someone ready to pose right beside the reindeer that you wanted to photograph. Amid all the glitz that is all around you, there was somehow a feeling of emptiness. The decorations were top notch, no doubt, but the feeling that it could have been so much more meaningful lingers.
After all, how can you possibly celebrate Christmas without “Christ”? For that, you’ll have to go visit the many Christian churches that dot the island. Christmas services are celebrated here and make up for that missing feeling that all the decorations in the world could never give you. Lest I become too depressing, the decoration, do raise awareness among non-Christians about the significance of Christmas.
While there is still time, I want to wish everyone a Blessed and Meaningful Christmas!
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/OrchardRoad.kmz}]