Balinese Life

Festive Season on Paradise Island

December and Christmas is indeed inseparable. Christmas implies the ambience of peace, festive season and joy. Other than Christmas, December also carries another momentous day, namely the year-end celebration. Why the year-end because the New Year’s celebration is usually more focused on 31 December. Many spectacular events are held to welcome such memorable yearly moments everywhere, including on the Island of Bali, at many hotels through their Christmas and New Year’s Eve programs.

Here on this tropical island, there is no snow as the close image affixed to this festivity. However, houses of those who celebrate this festivity remain to be decorated with distinctive Christmas trees along with its joyful ornaments. Wreath made from kiwi’s twig and artificial fruit mixed with beads or colourful flower arrangements, is dominated by red and green extending effervescent expression. Various fruit cakes, pudding or delicacies with Christmas nuances are well prepared in advance for hosting guests on this sanctified feast day.
Assuredly, the thing that is not left behind is the local unique and attractive ‘colour’, namely the erection of a pair of penjors (bamboo poles) by the entrance gates of churches. Penjor is made from a bamboo pole decorated with some young palm-leaf or coconut ornaments usually applied on particular Hindu religious ceremony or other Balinese local celebration.
Apart from religious context, Christmas celebration also delivers connotation of affection to the fellows. It drives the conscience to express it through gifts delivered to the beloved ones. In a wider context, it can function to maintain and reinforce social relationship, either of company-to-company or person-to-person within the business domain. Many parties, not only of the Christians, take advantage of this moment to express their congratulation. They undertake it through the delivery of greeting cards or diverse parcels. This must be seen as a point to maintain social relationship and wishes of a better relationship in the years to come.
During this festive season, craftsmen and florists specializing on Christmas parcels, will get good business. Even, they are snowed under too many orders. A wide choice of creatively made products is on offer. Some of them are various parcels packed in strikingly alluring look and with the nuance that is not far from the celebration. The articles like assorted cakes, milk, soft drink, coffee, tea and so forth are put into the nicely braided rattan basket, traditional bamboo basket or modern box with striking colour band packed in local touch. On the whole, those ornaments, cakes and parcels have already been widely available at supermarkets around Denpasar – city, long before Christmas. It will be up to customers which choice will meet their budget.
If you happen to spend your holiday on this island during this festive season, you can join Christmas dinner within Balinese ambience or with Balinese cultural show at your hotel or elsewhere. For further details, it would be advisable to ask about this gala dinner event to the reception at hotel or your travel agent. And finally, we’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and have a nice year-end vacation on this serene islet! (BTN/029)