Sunday, December 5, 2010

PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT TO LIGHT UP AGAIN FOR CHRISTMAS - A MUST VISIT DURING THIS PERIOD

Monday December 6, 2010

Portuguese Settlement starts decking up for the Yuletide season

MALACCA: Residents of the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir have begun their annual tradition – decking their homes with elaborate Christmas decorations to welcome the Yuletide season.

Residents of the country’s only Portuguese village are sprucing up their homes with decorations that will transform the entire area into a sea of colours and flickering lights by mid-December.

Regedor (village headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said more than 100,000 visitors were expected to flock to the village between the middle of the month till New Year’s Eve to get into the Christmas spirit and marvel at the unique decorations.

“Some of the decorations and lighting are sponsored by local companies but many families spend hundreds of ringgit from their own pockets on decorations and electricity bills,” he said when met at the village here yesterday.

Gomes confirmed that this year’s national-level Christmas celebrations would be held here on the night of Dec 27.

He confirmed that Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob would attend as guest of honour with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Ministry Datuk Seri Rais Yatim in attendance.

Gomes said the community was looking forward to hosting the celebrations here as it would be a good way of showcasing the centuries-old Portuguese culture and how the entire community took part in the festivity.

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