My Wish for a White Chritmas

Joy to the World - calls out the carollers along busy Orchard Road in Singapore. The branches on the trees swayed as if in response to the call, as the dangling bright lights littered the tree tops. Groups of tourists on open double-decked buses added even more glare to the over-exposed lighting as they popped their flashes with their cameras. Traffic came to a near standstill, as merrymakers, holidaymakers and all others thronged the two-kilometre stretch of one-way traffic all the way towards the city front where Suntec City is located.

I took courage and joined the bustling crowd of merrymakers, inching my way through to soak myself into the Christmas spirit. Though the crowds were just as thick as it was in previous years, the mood was somewhat sombre. Merrily people still posed for photographs at the various stalls set up by Christian groups to promote the message of the birth of Jesus Christ. The retail outlets competed with their giant Christmas trees and colourful decors. One other sign that a shopper wouldn't miss when visiting the retail malls is the sign that flount the word: Discount or Sale. Such sales gimmicks were unnecessary in the better years. Sales were only held after Christmas, on Boxing Day.

Christmas was a special time for me when I was about 10 years old. A stopover at the Robinson's then in the heart of the business centre at Raffles Place was a must. I would spend a good hour alone musing about the toyland, constantly on the look out for the sales lady for fear that she would notice that I was only there to play with the toys. The huge electric train set, complete with tunnels, stations and train crossing was certainly a key attraction for many children.

Today, visit Robinson's is a far cry from that good ole days, as they called it. Even the background music is not a traditional carol but a jazz tune sprinkled with the jingling of bells. The decor and the atmosphere certainly reflected a changed era...and indeed Robinson's has changed in ownership. To satisfy my thirst for some good traditional Christmas carols, I ventured out to the rest of Orchard Road, and I heard someone singing the line "...may your days be merry and bright". And I thought how I wish all Christmases may be white!