All set for X'mas of the new millennium

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 24. The mood is upbeat in the city as all the churches in the city gear up for the Christmas celebrations of the new millennium. Twinkling stars, Christmas trees, and cribs could be seen in most of the houses, shops and other establishments.

Special midnight holy mass was organised at the St. Joseph's Cathedral and other major churches. Just before the midnight mass, an image of child Jesus was brought by the priest preceded by rows of children holding lighted candles that were placed in the crib set up in the churches.

While some of the schools in the city organised Christmas celebrations on Friday, many cultural organisations organised celebrations at various parts of the city. The Latin Catholic Association organised a Christmas sangamam at the St. Joseph's cathedral hall. The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement organised an interaction with the inmates of the Old age home at Chackai.

The Agni Kala Samskarika Vedi organised a novel variety of Christmas celebration by setting up an illuminated 10 feet high Christmas tree in front of the Martyr's column today. The Auxiliary Bishop, Fr. Joshua Mar Ignathios, inaugurated the celebrations and cakes were also distributed.

The sale of cakes, a major ingredient for the Christmas is at its peak on Christmas eve. Most of the bakeries have prepared special cakes for Christmas in various shapes. The cakes in the shape of Santa Claus, animal shapes and various other shapes with icing are available from Rs. 45 onwards.

Meanwhile, a special cake for the veggies has been set up by the Swiss Bake House in the city, which is enjoying good sales. The sale of wine is also high in the shops.

The restaurants in the city have also arranged special Christmas dinners for couples, newly-weds, children and foreigners.

Though the sale of greeting cards suffered a jolt with the postal strike earlier this month, the sale gained momentum and is still high in many shops in the city. Exclusive centres for greeting cards remained open even on Sundays. Almost all cards shops in the city have displayed a range of season's greeting cards and also cards with photographs of babies and the like. One could also find naughty cards in the current collection.

At the same time, the youth are busy buying novel curios such as personal coffee mugs, pot-pourri or porcelain and artifacts to be given as presentation to their friends. These varieties available from Rs. 15 upwards and are enjoying good sales in the shops in the city.

On Christmas eve, many shoppers were still engaged in the last minute purchase of decorative items such as fancy flowers, cribs, little bells, angels, stars and coloured balls.

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