The Fiji TimesThe pleasure of the festive season

The jingling of bells and the impeccably cute ornament in houses and outlets point out Christmas Day. Santa Claus, the title that has been given to the harbinger of happiness and pleasure, provides a particular factor of innocence to the festive season. The hearts of individuals are crammed with pleasure and pleasure, as they beautify Christmas bushes with ornaments. Tomorrow, they are going to welcome company, bake truffles and cookies, sing carols, and trade presents. Aside from celebrating Christmas at dwelling with their family members, Fijians travelled to islands and villages to be with their prolonged households. The spirit of sharing and caring would be the spotlight. Thus, let optimistic vibes encompass us throughout this yr’s Christmas Day celebration.

The spiritual significance of Christmas

Christmas is widely known on December 25 and is each a sacred and cultural-religious vacation. For years, folks world wide have been observing it with traditions and practices which might be each spiritual and secular in nature. Christians rejoice Christmas Day because the anniversary of the delivery of Jesus Christ, a non secular chief whose teachings type the premise of their faith. Widespread customs embrace exchanging presents, adorning Christmas bushes, attending church, sharing meals with household and pals, and exchanging presents. In line with Christians, we rejoice Christmas as a result of the delivery of Jesus Christ was excellent news. The delivery of Jesus induced nice pleasure. We rejoice Christmas as a result of a Saviour was born, and he would ship us from sin and loss of life. We rejoice Christmas with gift-giving due to the indescribable present that God gave us. We rejoice Christmas by stringing lights as a result of the Gentle of the world got here to us. We rejoice Christmas with carols and choirs as a result of they categorical pleasure and delight. The Christmas tree, probably the most vital image of Christmas, is an evergreen tree, representing life. The customized of erecting a Christmas tree is traditionally traced to the fifteenth century. The tree was historically embellished with edibles similar to apples and nuts, however today embellished with ornaments and lights.

Celebrating Christmas in Fiji

The lyrics of Boney M’s Feliz Navidad and Mary’s Boy Little one set the platform for this yr’s Christmas. Regardless of the hike in costs of truffles, mushy drinks and toys, the Christmas fever had not drowned as customers crammed their trollies with last-minute goodies and youngsters bought their desired presents. Not like our days, the place dad and mom resorted to low-cost Christmas toys similar to plastic balls, dolls and plastic water weapons, this technology is fortunate within the sense they get gifted with jerseys, cell phones, digital devices, laptops and abroad journeys. Resorts and accommodations have additionally been booked by those that can afford them, and pals and family members will rejoice collectively. Barbecue and lovo will probably be tucked in by many, whereas others would favor goat meat. Pals will get collectively for kava and drinks. Christmas unites households – it brings them collectively. Some households will probably be sharing their goodies with their neighbours and people unlucky and needy ones. For some, Christmas is simply one other day. They are going to be driving taxis, minivans and buses, promoting alongside the roadside and out of doors markets, and in search of means to earn one thing for the household desk. If we’re blessed with sunny days and exquisite climate, count on picnic spots to be crowded with folks. Then there can be those that can be celebrating Christmas in church and will probably be having a meal within the consolation of their family members. Those that misplaced a cherished one would reminisce in regards to the golden days.

Early Christmas lunch

with our heroes I made a decision to rejoice this yr’s Christmas with lunch at dwelling. It touched my coronary heart when three members of the Fiji Airways males’s 7s workforce joined me. Waisea Nacuqu, Pilipo Bukayaro and Alasio Naduva blessed my household with their presence on Wednesday. Chatting with them, I didn’t see any indicators that these boys are world-class gamers. It’s uncommon to fi nd such humble, all the way down to earth, sort, loving and respectful gamers who’ve toured the world and received quite a few titles with the nationwide 7s workforce. The boys will probably be marching in camp for subsequent month’s Hamilton and Sydney 7s tournaments, and I’m optimistic coach Ben Gollings and Viliame Satala will rectify the errors made in Dubai andCape City and construct a successful
workforce. Losses within the second leg have made our boys hungry for the Hamilton 7s title!

Sumeet Tappoo fulfils  dream
It’s uncommon to see a Fijian watching the World Cup soccer dwell from the stands. Nonetheless, worldwide and nationwide icon Sumeet Tappoo fulfilled his dream. It had been a dream of Sumeet to go and see the World Cup last and with God’s grace, he had the chance to go to Qatar. It was an exceptional expertise. Watching it dwell was incomparable. Sumeet was so impressed with the hospitality of all the nation of Qatar and the infrastructure made it very simple for him to journey and attend the matches. He met many journalists, officers and followers who stated the Qatar World Cup was the very best they’d been to easily as a result of all the pieces was situated in a single metropolis, making it accessible and permitting all to converge in the identical place. The ambiance was superb and the nation
was buzzing with soccer power. Folks from all around the world and from all walks of life gathered within the spirit of soccer and oneness and there was a lot of affection, ardour and positivity within the air.

Sumeet’s love for Argentina goes again to 1985, when he visited Vancouver together with his household and on TV he noticed his fi rst soccer recreation. Argentina performed because the late Diego Maradona did his magic. Sumeet turned an immediate fan as he was mesmerised by him and the workforce and he started supporting them. In 1986, Argentina received the World Cup with the late Maradona proving to be their hero. Sadly, that was their final victory and Sumeet waited in useless for 36 years for them to win it once more. Sumeet is aware of all of the Argentina gamers.

In line with him, the workforce in Qatar was stable in defence and midfield and fairly than simply counting on Messi, the gamers supported him with excellent techniques and techniques. Sumeet’s all-time favorite Argentina gamers are the late Maradona and Lionel Messi. He stated Maradona’s loss of life was very painful for him as a result of he had dreamt of assembly him, however it was by no means to be. He, nevertheless, has a signed jersey of his and that could be a very prized possession. Sumeet shared some painful moments that he endured, particularly shedding the 1990 and 2014 World Cup finals to Germany. In 2014, Germany hit the winner late into further time, and it’s a damage which can by no means be erased. Heading into this yr’s last, the duty was very aggravating. The ultimate was nervewracking. When Argentina received, Sumeet regarded as much as the heavens, shed tears and thanked the Lord and the late Maradona, who, he was positive, was trying down and pushing the workforce. To observe the World Cup was particular, however to observe his beloved Argentina and Messi win to grow to be champions was the one biggest particular sporting second of his life. In line with Sumeet, the ambiance was divine and he jumped and sang with the Argentina followers throughout and after the sport who thought he was an Argentinian as a result of he was singing songs with them. There have been hundreds of Argentine supporters in
Qatar and the gamers they had been enjoying a house recreation. It was my privilege to see Messi dwell and win the World Cup.

Embrace togetherness, savour household ties and love

Whereas we’re celebrating Christmas, let’s embrace togetherness and savour household ties and love. On the similar time, let’s bear in mind the needy and unlucky ones. Many households are in search of determined methods to outlive, and any assist rendered to them will give them hope and luxury. It would rekindle the true which means of Christmas. I plead with drivers and pedestrians to train warning whereas on the street. To the drivers – please say no to rushing and drink and driving. It’s also vital for fogeys to oversee their youngsters and maintain monitor of their youngsters’s motion and wellbeing. Cops, who will probably be manning roads and patrolling streets, want our help. Let’s make life simpler for them by avoiding pointless fights and accidents. Staying collectively
and taking care of one another is crucial. Thus, I want the workers and readers of our primary The Fiji Occasions an enterprising, eventful and a blessed, merry and secure Christmas! Let’s get pleasure from this yr’s festive season to the brim, however keep secure and worth life.

• RAJNESH LINGAM is an everyday contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are the creator’s and don’t mirror the views of this newspaper.