By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
To celebrate the festive season, the cities of Kaohsiung and Pingtung in southern Taiwan lit up their Christmas trees at the World Games Main Stadium and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan, respectively. Organized by the Kaohsiung City Government, the “2013 Christmas Tree Lighting – Brighten Up Kaohsiung” event features a 29-meter-tall main Christmas tree, while 175 churches, government agencies, and other locations across the city also simultaneously lit up their decorations at 8:00 PM on December 1, illuminating the night sky of the harbor city. Meanwhile, an 8-meter-tall Christmas tree in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan was lit on the evening of November 30, officially kicking off the 2013 Sheshan Christmas Season.
Kaohsiung’s “2013 Christmas Tree Lighting – Brighten Up Kaohsiung” features a 29-meter-tall main Christmas tree. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung City Government)
The “2013 Christmas Tree Lighting – Brighten Up Kaohsiung” event was inaugurated by Mayor Chen Chu, who led the city government team and representatives from various religious groups to light up the 29-meter LED main Christmas tree, illuminating the night sky of Kaohsiung and marking the start of the event. At the same time, 175 key locations including churches, schools, government offices, and department stores across the city also lit up their displays, filling the harbor city with the peace and joy of Christmas. The entire World Games Boulevard was transformed into a dazzling light zone, creating a beautiful street of lights.
The Kaohsiung City Government’s Bureau of Civil Affairs noted that in addition to the carefully planned 900-meter-long Starry Rain Avenue, Christmas-themed environmental art installations, and the “River of Life” exhibit designed to resemble the exterior of the Catholic Holy Rosary Church, a variety of rich performances are scheduled every weekend evening from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM during the event period. Additionally, in conjunction with the Mayday concert at the end of the year, the Kaohsiung City Government will also consider extending the light display period to extend the festive atmosphere into 2014.
The annual Sheshan Christmas Season in December is the highlight of Pingtung County’s annual events. The lighting ceremony kicked off the Christmas season with performances by the traditional stick-dancing troupe and the drum team from Domingo High School at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan. The Sheshan Choir and the ancient song group from Taiwu Elementary School sang heavenly blessings. Father Xu Qingxian from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan delivered a sermon explaining the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The three wise men, guided by the Eastern Star, found the Christ child and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbolizing kingship, divinity, and humanity, respectively. The site was filled with the sacred atmosphere of a Catholic celebration.
The Sheshan Christmas Season lights up an 8-meter-tall Christmas tree. (Photo provided by Pingtung County Government)
Yin Fenglan, Director of Pingtung County’s Tourism and Communications Department, pointed out that many of the decorations incorporate religious art elements. In addition to the 3D rose ground painting, the star above the 8-meter-tall Christmas tree represents the Eastern Star that guided the three wise men and also symbolizes hope. By following the light of the Christmas tree, visitors can find their way to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan.
Underneath the Christmas tree, decorations include reindeer and a sleigh loaded with gifts. The Tourism and Communications Department has specially arranged the “Happy Snap” activity. On December 7, 8, 14, 21, and 24 during the Sheshan Christmas Season, 170 spots are available each day for both adults and children to sit on a dream sleigh next to the joyful Christmas tree. Professional photographers will take photos, which will be printed as postcards to preserve unique memories of the Sheshan Christmas Season. Visitors can also drop the postcards into a temporary mailbox at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan to send to family and friends.
Many people gathered at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan to light up the Christmas season together. (Photo provided by Pingtung County Government)
In addition, an artistic nativity scene has been set up. Spanish missionary couple Fede and Meng Jina brought traditional Spanish Christmas nativity culture, skillfully recreating the daily life scenes of Bethlehem when Jesus was born, with water flowing down from artificial hills symbolizing the fountain of life, quenching thirst for all who drink.
After the lighting ceremony of the Sheshan Christmas Season, nearly a month of activities commenced, including the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sheshan feast day procession on December 8, the Pingtung Indigenous Coffee Industry Development Project achievement presentation on December 14, the Pingtung Coffee Tasting and Grassland Starlight Coffee Music Festival on December 21 and 22, the Angelic Voices Christmas Gala and Christmas Carol Service on December 24, the Taiwu Coffee Street, and more. The alleys of Sheshan Village and the Ulaljuc Tribe are “hiding” plenty of surprises, along with a Sheshan Christmas-themed pavilion introducing the area’s unique Catholic culture and surrounding tourism industry information.
● Read More:
【Christmas Gift Exchange Series】 Afternoon Tea: A European-style Fantasy Park Welcomes Christmas
http://goo.gl/BjpQ0B