Christmas tree – main ritual of the Christmas celebration to welcome the arrival of Santa Claus – creates more charm to the festivity of Christmas with its colorful decorative look. With a few days left to Christmas, the members of Christian community start decorating the evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, as a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tree is usually decked with different ornaments including baubles, small bells painted gold or silver, stars of different shapes and sizes, pine cones, apples, candies, tinsel and balloons made from glass, metal, wood and ceramic. An angel and star is often placed at the top of the tree representing the host of angels. Like other parts of the world, the Christian community living in Federal capital, has also setup Christmas trees at different areas including a major attraction in the Blue Area. While the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will also light up a Christmas tree at National Monument in connection with the upcoming Christmas.
In various cultures, the Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the home and decorated with Christmas lights (originally candles), ornaments, garlands, tinsel, and candy canes during the days around Christmas. The earliest accounts of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas were recorded in Livonia (roughly modern territory of Estonia and Latvia) in 15th century. Talking to APP, a decoration seller said that people mostly use colorful candles and electric lights (fairy lights) as they are easily available here on small sized trees. Many people also decorate outdoor trees with lights and some added charms, he added. The preparations for Christmas in twin cities are on peak by the Christian community to celebrate their most important religious festival.
The areas where Christians live in large number and Churches are being decorated with lights, colorful posters and the traditional Christmas Tree. About the preparations, the officials of Ministry of National Harmony said the festivals of minorities are celebrated officially by the government throughout the year to follow the true ethical values and in this regard, the upcoming festival of Christmas will also be celebrated at higher level. Christian employees working in the government departments will also enjoy optional holiday of December 26 that was recently approved for Christian community for celebrating Christmas.
Exhibition of ‘Post Card to Faiz’: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Nukta Art will hold an exhibition titled ‘The Post Card to Faiz’ based on the entries received for ‘Faiz Art Prize’ competition on December 20. The competition was an initiative of Nukta Art, Aman ke Asha and Progressive Writers Association as part of the Faiz Centennial Celebrations. The particiapnts were expected to create an art work symbolising their dialogue with the poet’s verse, illustrate Faiz’s philosophy and interpret his message for peace, love, justice and fraternity, on a specially designed post card sheet of A4 size with a logo. The idea was to bring together the two cultural disciplines of visual art and literature. The post cards were dispatched in Pakistan, India and other countries, particularly wherever Faiz is extensively read and appreciated.
