Decorations light up holiday spirit
FROM small baubles to huge reindeers, Christmas ornaments featuring various themes have over the years livened up the spirit of Christmas in the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir, Banda Hilir, drawing in hundreds and thousands of foreign tourists and local visitors.
Every year, residents go all out to decorate every nook and corner of their houses, from the kitchens right up to their gardens to create a lively Christmas atmosphere.
This year, despite a rather toned-down Christmas decor, the settlement hasn’t failed to mesmerise tourists and local visitors alike, thanks to their legacy in creativity and charm.
A house along Jalan Day was spotted with huge Christmas candies planted just outside the garden and glittering garlands were seen wrapped around the pillars in the porch.
There was also a lighted wooden crib, a colourful gingerbread house and several small Santas on parachutes, hung next to the window.
Corinna De Silva, a 47-year-old resident here, who started decorating her house on Nov 10, said the garlands should be put up first.
“My sister, Frandora De Silva, 46 dislikes using many colours so we always stick to the same colour, using mostly white and a little bit of blue and red in our lighting decorations,” she said.
Corinna added that some technical skills were needed to insert lights into house sculptures, without the protruding wires.
“My brother-in-law Jerry Alcantra and nephew Adam help with the lighting. They put garlands around the decorations so that wires don’t hang out and make it look messy,” she said.
Corinna said decorating the house for Christmas was also a good bonding time among family members.
“It is a feeling that you only get once a year. This is the time when families get together, decorate homes, sing carols — it’s a good bonding session for us,” she said.
Moses Hendricks, 49, said making an extra effort to store the ornaments helps him save cost when it comes to the decorations.
“Every year, I would add some powder to the lights before keeping them in a box.
“This is to prevent the wire coating from becoming sticky,” he said, adding that he reuses the LED lights year after year.
“With the money I save on lighting, I can afford to buy new decorations every year.
This year, I bought two lighted reindeers costing RM500,” he said.
Hendricks, a fisherman, said the Christmas decorations were put up early this month.
“My father John Hendricks, passed away last year at 83, and my mother Margaret Hendricks, 72, is too old to move around.
“When I was not out at sea, I decorated and painted my house in white and green.
“This was followed by other decorations, including trees, lights and other ornaments,” he said.
Corinna De Silva, a resident of Ujong Pasir, decorates her home.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
FROM small baubles to huge reindeers, Christmas ornaments featuring various themes have over the years livened up the spirit of Christmas in the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir, Banda Hilir, drawing in hundreds and thousands of foreign tourists and local visitors.
Every year, residents go all out to decorate every nook and corner of their houses, from the kitchens right up to their gardens to create a lively Christmas atmosphere.
This year, despite a rather toned-down Christmas decor, the settlement hasn’t failed to mesmerise tourists and local visitors alike, thanks to their legacy in creativity and charm.
A house along Jalan Day was spotted with huge Christmas candies planted just outside the garden and glittering garlands were seen wrapped around the pillars in the porch.
There was also a lighted wooden crib, a colourful gingerbread house and several small Santas on parachutes, hung next to the window.
Corinna De Silva, a 47-year-old resident here, who started decorating her house on Nov 10, said the garlands should be put up first.
“My sister, Frandora De Silva, 46 dislikes using many colours so we always stick to the same colour, using mostly white and a little bit of blue and red in our lighting decorations,” she said.
Corinna added that some technical skills were needed to insert lights into house sculptures, without the protruding wires.
“My brother-in-law Jerry Alcantra and nephew Adam help with the lighting. They put garlands around the decorations so that wires don’t hang out and make it look messy,” she said.
Corinna said decorating the house for Christmas was also a good bonding time among family members.
“It is a feeling that you only get once a year. This is the time when families get together, decorate homes, sing carols — it’s a good bonding session for us,” she said.
Moses Hendricks, 49, said making an extra effort to store the ornaments helps him save cost when it comes to the decorations.
“Every year, I would add some powder to the lights before keeping them in a box.
“This is to prevent the wire coating from becoming sticky,” he said, adding that he reuses the LED lights year after year.
“With the money I save on lighting, I can afford to buy new decorations every year.
This year, I bought two lighted reindeers costing RM500,” he said.
Hendricks, a fisherman, said the Christmas decorations were put up early this month.
“My father John Hendricks, passed away last year at 83, and my mother Margaret Hendricks, 72, is too old to move around.
“When I was not out at sea, I decorated and painted my house in white and green.
“This was followed by other decorations, including trees, lights and other ornaments,” he said.
Corinna De Silva, a resident of Ujong Pasir, decorates her home.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
