Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas friends .Its Christmas yet again! The festivities all around –east or west, Christians or no Christians. One perhaps cannot imagine Christmas without Santa or the Christmas tree.  Here is an attempt to trace the custom of decorating Christmas tree. Hope it adds colour to the already festive mood.

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century, in which "devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes". Christmas trees are hung in St. George's Church, Sélestat since 1521 The Christmas tree has also been known as the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins.

Georgia

Georgians have their own traditional Christmas tree called Chichilaki, made from dried up hazelnut or walnut branches that are shaved to form a small coniferous tree. These pale-colored ornaments differ in height from 20 cm to 3 meters. Georgians believe that Chichilaki resembles the famous beard of St. Basil the Great, who is thought to visit people during Christmas similar to the Santa Claus tradition

 

Poland

There was an old pagan custom of suspending at the ceiling a branch of fir, spruce or pine called Podłaźniczka associated with Koliada. The branches were decorated with apples, nuts, cookies, colored paper, stars made of straw, ribbons and colored wafers. People believed in the tree magical powers linked with harvesting and success in the next year.In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, these traditions were almost completely replaced by the German custom of decorating the Christmas tree

 

Scandinavia

In Norse mythology, the oak was sacred to the thunder god, Thor. Thor's Oak was a sacred tree of the Germanic Chatti tribe. According to legend, the Christianisation of the heathen tribes by Saint Boniface was marked by the oak's being replaced by the fir,whose triangular shape symbolizes the Trinity as a "sacred" tree.

Estonia and Latvia

Customs of erecting decorated trees in wintertime can be traced to Christmas celebrations in Renaissance-era guilds in Northern Germany and Livonia. The first evidence of decorated trees associated with Christmas Day are trees in guildhalls decorated with sweets to be enjoyed by the apprentices and children. In Livonia (present-day Latvia and Estonia), in 1441, 1442, 1510 and 1514, the Brotherhood of Blackheads erected a tree for the holidays in their guild houses in Riga and Reval (now Tallinn). On the last night of the celebrations leading up to the holidays, the tree was taken to the Town Hall Square where the members of the brotherhood danced around it.

Canada

The tradition was introduced to Canada in the winter of 1781 by Brunswick soldiers stationed in the Province of Quebec to garrison the colony against American attack. General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel and his wife, the Baroness von Riedesel, held a Christmas party at Sorel, delighting their guests with a fir tree decorated with candles and fruits

Singapore-The shoppers paradise

There is always a dilemma how to describe Singapore-a “tourists paradise “or a “shopper’s paradise”. After visiting Singapore twice, I can say it’s both. I have already talked about what Singapore has to offer to its millions of tourists, here is now a glimpse of what it has to offer to the shopping crazy ones.

Orchard Road : This 5km stretch is Singapore's most famous shopping address. The Luis Vuittons and Armanis of this world are well-represented here. All the known brands can be seen here .You can find people from all the nook and corner of the world roaming around here.  It is a posh shopping street which is famous for its beautiful Christmas decorations and illuminations. I was lucky to have visited around Christmas time and could enjoy the festive mood here at the Orchard road.  

Sim Lim Square is where the locals go to satisfy their high-tech cravings. And its easy to see why - 6 levels of computer-related shops offering the best prices in Singapore. Well you need to test your bargaining skills here. I thought it was only at Chandani chowk or Karol Bagh in Delhi. Beware that some shopkeepers may be very rude if you enter into bargain and then don’t buy.

Mustafa Centre is located in the Little India district and is the  best place for shopping. Mustafa was founded by Indian businessman Mustaq Ahmad in 1971 .It may not be as fancy as some of Singapore’s other malls, but it has a great range of items, and good prices to match. There is also a large selection of Indian apparel and accessories available here, which is not surprising, considering its location. Offering even travel, hotel reservation and visa assistance services, Mustafa Centre is a shopping experience unlike any other that shouldn’t be missed.

Suntec city mall is the largest shopping mall of Singapore. It is also the famous for the fountain of wealth-the largest fountain in the world. Suntec city engages over 300 retail outlets, 50 pushcarts and 100 F&B establishments spreading across 4 floors. The mega mall is divided into 4 zones: the Galleria, offering high-end labels, the Tropics, emphasising on lifestyle merchandises and services, the Fountain Terrace, specialising in F&B, and the Entertainment Centre, comprising of a cinema, fitness gym, an arcade and many more.

With its close proximity to the Central Business District and top tourist spots, it’s no wonder this shopping, entertainment and dining centre is the perfect one-stop place to unwind – a must-visit for all tourists

Little India is Singapore’s foremost Indian enclave. Its charm lies in the fact that many of olden-day trades can still be found by its roadsides, alleys and back lanes. Fortune-tellers and their parrots, flower vendors selling garlands of jasmine, roasted nuts sellers on pushcarts and street-side newspaper vendors are just some of the interesting sights to be found.

Serangon road has spice selling shops and its inner lanes like Campbell Lane, Dunlop Street and Hindon Road have stalls selling Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics in a variety of textures. It was also interesting to find  a pan shop in Little India. For a glimpse of Hindu rituals, do stop by the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali.

There are also well-established restaurants like Komala Villas, Banana Leaf Apolo and Muthu’s Curry, where one can find spicy classic South Indian fare. Tekka Market is another option if one is craving for homely Indian food.

Sungei Road 'Thieves Market’: There was a time when the goods sold here were supposedly stolen from somewhere. Not really so any more. But the Sungei Road 'Thieves Market' is still a Singapore icon today. Stroll among the makeshift stalls and watch the locals bargain/banter with the stall-holders. But if you really want, look carefully among the junk and you may find something quite special

 

China Town is an ethnic neighborhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. There are plenty of small souvenirs shops selling Chinese art and feng shui products, T shirts and Chinese dresses. There are also plenty of spas and foot massage parlours. Of course there are plenty of Chinese eating joints and also Food Street. Evenings at Chinatown are crowded and colorful with lots of cultural events taking place.

There are also several prominent religious landmarks in the area and you might be surprised to see that there are also Hindu temples and mosques amongst them. Both the Sri Mariamman Temple and Jamae Mosque on South Bridge Road are among the oldest places of worship in Singapore, while a little further on down the road, you can also find the visually stunning Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which reputedly contains a tooth of the Buddha.