Satyabrata Mishra
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: Absolutely nothing could dampen the spirits of children who were singing, dancing and making merry at their schools ahead of Christmas.
Special events were planned at schools across the city to ring in Christmas in all its fervour and the little kids were all dressed in their best. Santa Claus was gracious enough to spend generous time with the children and present them cool gifts and chocolates. Their joy knew no bounds.
At Lotuskids, a playschool in the city, parents were pleasantly surprised when they were shown handmade greeting cards and paper bags that were put together by their wards with help from their teachers.
“Such programmes, while being fun-filled and exciting, also send out a very important message to the little ones – Christmas is all about giving love. It is about spreading joy and driving out the darkness from our lives,” said Archana Mishra, a parent.
Some kids, deciding one Santa Claus was not going to be enough, dressed themselves up in the red costume while others danced to popular Christmas carols.
“It’s wonderful to see such happy faces,” beamed Soumya, a staffer of the school who was playing Santa.
“They are too young to understand the significance of the occasion, but what they will remember is the sharing and the affection,” said Sindhu Brown, another employee of the school.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Bachpan Play School in IRC Village. At a corner of a classroom, the birth of Jesus Christ was enacted by putting up statues and an elaborate Christmas tree decked with stars, bells and colourful lights.
Children were distributed chocolates and gifts; almost all of them were seen turning up for repeat servings with a naughty smile.
“Usually very few people stay home for Christmas in the city as they go to visit their relatives in other places or go on a vacation, and that is why we preferred to hold the celebrations early.
We’re pleased that the children had fun,” said Sripati Srichandan, director of the school.
At St. Xavier’s High School, children dressed up as figures from the Bible enacted the birth of Christ. Parents who turned up to watch the proceedings were hearty in their applause.
