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Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
December 20, 2012 Thursday
It's never too late to decorate
by Jumana Khamis and Noorhan Barakat Staff Reporters
Dubai: With new year holiday and Christmas around the corner, expat
families in the UAE are decorating their homes to embrace the
Christmas spirit.
Twenty-two year old Julie Joseph from Syria is one of many expats in
the country who enjoy decorating their house for Christmas. "We start
decorating on the end of November to feel the Christmas spirit and to
stare at the Santa socks until they get full with gifts," she said.
Julie added that the whole house turns red and green with jingle bell
ornaments, red candles, and little Santa and snowmen statuettes.
"Everyone fights to decorate the Christmas tree. We also put empty
gift boxes under the tree just to trick each," she said.
Diana Laham, 22, also had her decorations up almost two weeks before
Christmas. "I was actually nagging my mum to get the tree out since
the end of November, as I could not wait for that moment when I put up
the Christmas decorations."
Diana's family get together to decorate the tree every year as her dad
sets up the tree, whereas her mum and sister decorate it with lights
and ornaments.
"We usually take down the decorations during the first week of
January,' she added.
University student Anna Yazijyan from Armenia who has decorated her
apartment with Christmas lights and decorations said she is also
counting down the days till Christmas.
Anna who comes from an Armenian Esteran Orthodox family celebrates
Christmas on 6-7 January with several holiday traditions. "Every year
on our Christmas tree, we bring out our special ornaments that have
been in our families for 20 to 30 years to hang on the Christmas tree
in the centre of our living room," she said. Anna and her family also
hang candy and tangerines on the Christmas tree as a treat for the
children.
From: A. Papazian
December 20, 2012 Thursday
It's never too late to decorate
by Jumana Khamis and Noorhan Barakat Staff Reporters
Dubai: With new year holiday and Christmas around the corner, expat
families in the UAE are decorating their homes to embrace the
Christmas spirit.
Twenty-two year old Julie Joseph from Syria is one of many expats in
the country who enjoy decorating their house for Christmas. "We start
decorating on the end of November to feel the Christmas spirit and to
stare at the Santa socks until they get full with gifts," she said.
Julie added that the whole house turns red and green with jingle bell
ornaments, red candles, and little Santa and snowmen statuettes.
"Everyone fights to decorate the Christmas tree. We also put empty
gift boxes under the tree just to trick each," she said.
Diana Laham, 22, also had her decorations up almost two weeks before
Christmas. "I was actually nagging my mum to get the tree out since
the end of November, as I could not wait for that moment when I put up
the Christmas decorations."
Diana's family get together to decorate the tree every year as her dad
sets up the tree, whereas her mum and sister decorate it with lights
and ornaments.
"We usually take down the decorations during the first week of
January,' she added.
University student Anna Yazijyan from Armenia who has decorated her
apartment with Christmas lights and decorations said she is also
counting down the days till Christmas.
Anna who comes from an Armenian Esteran Orthodox family celebrates
Christmas on 6-7 January with several holiday traditions. "Every year
on our Christmas tree, we bring out our special ornaments that have
been in our families for 20 to 30 years to hang on the Christmas tree
in the centre of our living room," she said. Anna and her family also
hang candy and tangerines on the Christmas tree as a treat for the
children.
From: A. Papazian