Brightly lit: Homes at the Portuguese settlement in Melaka all decked out in colourful lights for Christmas. — RSN MURALI/The Star
MELAKA: It’s that time of the year when the small Portuguese community in Ujong Pasir here will get together to light up their settlement and create a Yuletide fairyland.
On Saturday, thousands of visitors, including busloads of Singaporeans, thronged the settlement to witness the event.
Visitors took pictures at the front of the settlement’s landmark – “Christ the Redeemer” – which was filled with decorative lights and ornaments.
Also present were Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, settlement headman Oliver Lopez, organising committee chairman Gerard Ignatius Danker and community activist Martin Theseira.
Lopez, when interviewed, said it is the first time that a Kristang-themed beauty pageant and choir were organised.
Kristang is the local Portuguese language.
“We intended to create a traditional Christmas atmosphere and enrich the younger generation with our rich culture,” he said.
Lopez said this festive season is a time for the community to return to the good old days when Christmas was celebrated in the spirit of sharing and camaraderie.
“It’s the right occasion to showcase the nuance of Christmas and preserve our culture,” he said.
Theseira credited the success in organising a grand Yuletide celebration at the settlement to the Village Development and Security Committee.
He said youths from the settlement contributed immensely to making the celebration a success.
Earlier, toys and food were distributed to children by Santa Claus. It is a custom to light up the settlement ahead of Christmas to showcase multiple Yuletide decorations to thousands of visitors and foreigners.
