CHRISTMAS comes once a year and for many families, it is a time to come together to celebrate, share gifts and conclude the passing year together and reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is also a time when huge Christmas trees are put up in public spots for everyone to enjoy.
In Gizo, a huge Christmas tree was also stood up weeks ahead of Christmas and lightened at night by colourful lights, enlivening the Christmas spirit.
And these sparkling colourful lights continue to attract many families, especially children to come out from their homes each evening just to enjoy their time together, watching the Christmas Tree lights glitter.
These Christmas trees also provide a lovely and colourful backdrop for many families who saw the Christmas decors as providing a beautiful scenery to snap a few photos of themselves, using their digital cameras and mobile phones.
In most of the urban communities, many homes have also been decorated with colourful lights.
Like all other urban centres around the country, the Western Provincial capital, Gizo, also came alive each evening following the erection of a Christmas Tree decorated with blue lights.
The Christmas light was put up at the open space between the two market complexes in the township.
The set up was initiated by a group of Gizo residents and they turned the lights on a few days before the Christmas weekend.
And it attracted many families, especially children and youths.
Equipped with their mobile phones, they took turns to pose against the backdrop of the Christmas lights for selfies and group photos.
And most of the photos have since been uploaded onto personal Facebook accounts and other social media platforms.
For others, the photos are kept in their galleries as memorabilia of this year’s Christmas.
For young Henry Boseto, since the lights were up, he was excited and always found time to visit them every evening with his sisters and friends.
For a Honiara visitor, Solynter, she too was excited to join some of her Gizo-based family members and friends to visit the Christmas lights on Christmas Day.
The Christmas lights are expected to remain for a while, providing a wonderful atmosphere for residents to come together and spend their evenings.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of peaceful celebration all around Western Province.
No major incidents have been reported.
Over the Christmas weekend, many families hit the beaches to celebrate Christmas.
For some, the Christmas also offered them the opportunity to be reunited with their families after the international borders reopened.
By MOFFAT MAMU
