JP/17/SINGPO
JP/17/SINGPO
An Asian identity for Christmas
Henry Lie
Contributor/Singapore
Singapore is trying to invent an identity for themselves even if
they have to redefine a foreign culture, and it seems they have
been successful. They are redefining Christmas identity.
This year is the greatest event of Christmas Celebration in
Singapore since it was started in 1983, when the Orchard Road
Light Up was started. This year's theme of the decoration is
Christmas in the Tropics, bringing an atmosphere of a localized
Christmas scene to the people. No more snow or too much of Santa
Claus.
It is for the very first time as well that Singapore Tourism
Board is working together with the National Council of Church to
bring about the series of events named "Celebrate Christmas in
Singapore". The event brings alive various displays of Christmas
stories by live performers, foreign community booths,
performances at satellite stages, a Christmas parade and
Christmas Eve countdown concert.
The event displays booths to portrait how foreign communities
celebrate Christmas. Most of the booths come from China, Hawaii,
India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and more, which really
ignites an Asian feeling of Christmas to the visitors.
The Christmas parade itself, which rallies contingents from
foreign countries along Orchard Road on Dec. 18, displays multi-
nations' ethnical dance and song of how each nation celebrates
the Christmas season. Visitors have the chance to see the truly
Asian Christmas from performances from the Philippines, Taiwan,
Korea, Japan, Singapore, and of course Indonesia, which brings
the largest team of the foreigners.
Indonesia is represented by a musical group namely,
Celebration of Praise. The group, which is headquartered at
Bandung, West Java, comes with a full force comprising 60 people
of singers, dancers and musicians.
The visitors give a big applause when the group performs
multi-ethnical dance performance, showing to the world how rich
the Indonesian culture is. Colorful national costumes from each
ethnic group in Indonesia -- with dynamic modern ethno-dance
performance stands aloud other country's performers.
"It is our mission to show the world that Indonesia should be
known as a country very rich in culture and not about terrorism,
said Batara Sihombing, the chairman of the musical group, when he
was asked the reason he labors to bring such a big group to
Singapore. It is our calling to glorify the Lord through arts as
well, he said.
Singapore never stops to recreate its identity in many things,
be it economic competitive edge, technology and now culture and
arts. They have always been trying to become a hub of many
things, given their strategic location. And it seems they have
been successful. Now, they have created a unique identity of
Christmas. An Asian Christmas.