Weird Xmas by the Equator

You can always tell how many people are in the house by counting shoes.
Xmas Day crew  - Jane, Sophia, Myrna Sweet, Cathryn, Tess, Ellen, Evangeline and Amie
Who doesn't like presents?

Tess checking out the tree.
Sophia got some big Santa pants.

The hood will come in handy when the mercury dips below 83.
Filipino Maha Blanca - desert with a message.
Heavy frying.
The spread
A good fake tree is key.
Homage to the folks in Cali.
Elijah holds a prime tree spot.
The Gimbel siblings and their faahhhthah
Lena, Tod and more.....
Sophia and Myrna styling.

Party girls at the Xmas Eve Bash.

"I know snow - it comes in a can"
Singapore's passion - the photo in front of some gaudy or tacky decorations.

A pair of Santa's helpers looking for people to help.

Christmas Eve in Singapore is like New Years eve in Times Square.  People party, hit the streets, wear Santa hats, spray fake snow from cans and then count down to Midnight.  All that was missing was the big crystal ball to drop and Dick Clark.

All the stores were open on the 24th and opened as usual on the 25th.  I think it all has to do with an identity crisis caused by too many people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Not sure how to keep all the recent holidays straight (Hari Raya Haj. Deepavali, upcoming Chinese New Year and more) and not wanting to appear to favor any particular beliefs, the good Government of Singapore has decided that keeping all holidays commercial is a win win.  More tourists, more shopping and spending.  Every day is a day to buy, give and party!

We got sucked in.  Went to a nice party last night, got up today and exchanged gifts (highlights  - my Wii, Sophia's gold earrings and iPod dock and Myrna's new Motorola RAZR phone), cooked and had a bunch of Myrna's friends for late afternoon dinner.

We came, we ate, we drank, we spent - we even got caught up in the countdown and canned snow. I do like the idea of walking around in shorts, flip flops and tee tee shirt 365 days a year though.