Christmas is for many, the magical conclusion to another eventful year. In the spirit of the season, we have collated heartfelt recollections by our friends on why they love the festive season, and their plans for this year’s celebrations.
“Christmas is typically spent with my extended family and friends, as we share conversations which are complemented with food and drinks. We like to keep it simple that way. In fact, this best describes my ideal Christmas celebration – a time where my loved ones can spend time together and enjoy one another’s company.
This year will not be too different, except for the possibility that we might entertain a larger gathering given our confined circumstances these past few years, as we all would know.” – Desmond Fu, Portfolio Manager
“I cannot emphasise enough how much I love Christmas, especially since it pairs perfectly with my wanderlust!
Every year, I would travel to a few European countries for two weeks, indulging in the festivities and the jovial ambience! Just imagine – the Christmas markets, the flurry of snow and the coolness of the air – just perfect! On Christmas day itself, I would return home to spend the day with my adorable dog, as we take a stroll down Orchard Road and drop by at pet-friendly cafes. We would also decorate our home to match the wondrous festive radiance in Europe!
Travelling this year is incredibly complicated. So, I have decided to host a high tea session at home with friends, as well as a gingerbread house baking session! Maybe once the situation improves, I could bring my dog overseas to celebrate Christmas!” – Ong Jes Sy, Art Director
“Well personally, I’m not a huge celebrant of Christmas. This year’s celebrations, though, will be a pivotal one for me! It just so happens that I’ll be meeting my friends from Temasek Rotaract Club to celebrate my birthday, and we’ll use that opportunity to celebrate Christmas early as well. More interestingly however, is the fact that 18 December also marked the last day of my military career – a part of my life that has spanned for over 38 years! It’s hard to believe that time flies so quickly. I guess it’s fitting that we will kickstart the birthday cum Christmas cum semi-retirement party with a Tabata workout session, then a festive potluck accompanied with games and music!” – SWO Leong Teng Kee, Retired Military Trainer
“Christmas is a huge event at my place, as it should be! We usually host a large party at my place – by large, I mean 60-80 partygoers – and we’ll prepare a glorious feast befitting the festivities! You can only imagine the spread we have on our table – turkey, ham and log cake amongst many other dishes. Some of our guests would also contribute to the feast by bringing more food, so much so that the leftovers could actually last us until the New Year! I just enjoy the company of all my friends and loved ones and providing them this indulgent space during Christmas is my way of showing my appreciation and thanks!
This Christmas can be described as pretty atypical for me, given that I’m actually travelling to Italy! I’m going to use the opportunity to just relish in the country’s hospitality and unwind after a hectic year.” – Audrey Ang, Human Resource Business Partner
“In the past, a month before Christmas, we would spend time looking for a Christmas tree, as well as ornaments that can perfectly evoke the jolly spirit of the season. We would also dedicate time to preparing gifts, as our relatives would come over to my house to celebrate the festivities together. We would play games, eat, and then go to church to kickstart the year on a positive note!
However, as we have gotten older, we no longer have the luxury of time to decorate the house as we used to. Instead, we would go overseas and celebrate Christmas with our own families!” – Arthur Leong, student
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