Singing for a merry Christmas

KARACHI: The event started off with fireworks and an explosion of red and green balloons that were sent off into the blue heavens on the last Sunday before Christmas. At least 175 young children between the ages of four to 14 gathered at the St Anthony’s Church to sing Christmas carols.

Christians across Karachi have started preparations for December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ.

A representative, talking to The Express Tribune, said that they started celebrating Sunday of the advent (Sundays before Christmas) from November 28. The event at St Anthony’s was titled ‘Carols of the season’.

While carols are sung in different churches across Karachi, this year’s event at St Anthony’s tried to involve children. The same event used to be held at St Lawrence’s Church, a 10-year-old practice of that parish, said a representative.

It is a good start to come here and tell Jesus that you want to celebrate his birthday by really performing well and giving it your very best, he added.

Renee Chappell, a mother of two, said that her daughter participated in the carols because she loves to sing. Her son, on the other hand, was sitting quietly on the pews beside her. “He’s really shy,” Renee explained.

She said that she had started preparing for Christmas by making sweets and decorating her house. “My children just love decorating the Christmas tree!” she said.

Francis, a young boy at the event, said that this is not his first or last singing function. Flanked by his friends in Cantonment apartments, Francis goes around the building and sings carols. They also collect donations from people, which they contribute to charity or old homes.

Genelle and Steven, the two main characters of the performance, were wrapped in old Arabic robes. Accompanying them were the four kings, holding lavish items and robed in flashy colours, all of them said that they were very excited because this was their first performance in a carol.

Adeel Michael, who was there to volunteer, had been helping out since the 4 pm mass. This, he believed, was his contribution and service to Jesus Christ.

Kaylyn, a seven-year-old student of class II in Jesus and Mary’s Convent School, whose hands were entangled in the balloons she was holding for the stage said that she was participating because she likes performing. After dismounting from the stage, she admitted that she really enjoyed being in the limelight. “I don’t feel nervous up there because I have already performed in plays and other events,” she said.

Excited about the gift she had received, she said, “I am going to show it to my friends and share with my cousin!”

The happy and excited children sang 15 carols, including Mary’s little boy child, Jingle Bells, Joy to the world, Frosty the snowman and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

After their performance, the children received gifts - which they were told were sent by Santa Claus for their good singing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2010.