THE MELBOURNE OBSC CHRISTMAS PARTY(26/11/2023) Source : SPC OBSC Melbourne: Newsletter – Summer 2023-2024 Our last function for 2023 provided a great afternoon out for our 250+ guests at the Lincoln of Toorak who provided an outstanding buffet with all the Christmas trimmings. The venue looked great with a fantastic backdrop to take those family Christmas photos …in fact, you had to queue up at one stage to get on. It was heartwarming to see the 40 or so kids enjoying the day, especially when Santa made an appearance. And the afternoon rocked on to the groove of Clarence Rey and DJ Pio.  We wish all Peterites and their families and friends (not forgetting our sponsors throughout the year without whom we could not do what we do)a new year that sees all your resolutions come true. We hope to see our guests during 2024 at our functions.   ...

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“Christmas time in Sri Lanka is a magical and sensational affair.” – By Harold Gunatillake Website : www.Doctorharold.com Christmas is a highly anticipated festival in Sri Lanka, celebrated on December 25th. Preparations begin weeks in advance, and it has become one of the most celebrated festivals in the country. On Boxing Day, I had the opportunity to stroll around Galle Face Green. It was a bustling place with many families enjoying the holiday and snacking on local foods. The evening had a tremendous post-Christmas vibe to it. Here are some captures at the site. After the boxing day on the 27th of December, we visited the City Centre Mall on James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo. Are you in the mood for some shopping? Perhaps you want to take advantage of the sales or do window shopping? Either way, Colombo City Centre is the perfect place to go for the ultimate shopping ...

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Christmas traditions – celebrated around the world Radishes wih detailed designs in Mexico Source : island From Krampus to a KFC-fueled Christmas, here’s a look at some of the world’s most fascinating holiday traditions.Countries around the world have unique end-of-year customs they’ve practiced for decades or even centuries. For instance, several Central European countries honour St. Nick’s evil counterpart, Krampus, a supernatural figure charged with punishing bad children by leaving lumps of coal in their Christmas stockings or whacking them with a birch switch. Japan has its own special Christmas traditions, shaped in part by none other than Kentucky Fried Chicken. In the early 1970s, KFC kicked off an advertising campaign touting fried fowl as America’s favorite holiday meal. Special yuletide packaging and Santa hats on the statues of Colonel Sanders outside restaurants reinforced the message. Today, KFC Japan’s highest sales occur during the festive season, according to the Daily Mail. ...

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 Peterite Christmas Night 2023 / PRESS RELEASE St. Peter’s College OBU UK hosted their annual Christmas gathering, “Peterite Christmas Night 2023” at Nakshastra Hall in London. It was a fantastic and successful event! The fact that tickets sold out within two weeks of release and that over 300 guests attended speaks volumes about the popularity and enthusiasm for the occasion. The combination of Christmas carols, live music by the band “Solid,” and DJ Ashane surely created a lively and festive atmosphere. It’s heartwarming to hear that the Peterites and guests came together to sing carols, emphasizing the sense of community and shared joy. The presence of Santa Claus with surprises for over 50 kids and The Bubble Show for kids added a magical touch to the event, making it even more memorable for families and children. The collaboration with Whitton Caterers and Roistan Caterers for the food likely contributed to ...

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A Magical Christmas Eve – By Dodwell Keyt Once upon a time in the small town of Rosebud, there lived two young girls named Sally and Kelli. Rosebud is a picturesque town on the Mornington Peninsula; its charm is even more pronounced during the holiday season. Sally and Kelli loved Christmas more than anything, but this year was different. They were to spend Christmas with Kelli’s grandparents in Daylesford. On Christmas Eve, they took a stroll through the enchanting town square, adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations. As they wandered through the festive streets, they noticed an old bookstore they had never seen before. The sign above the entrance read, “The Enchanted Pages.” Intrigued, Sally pushed open the creaky door and entered the cosy bookstore. A warm scent of cinnamon filled the air inside, and shelves upon shelves of books lined the walls. The elderly shopkeeper, Mr Dickens, welcomed ...

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Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo 189 21 12 2023 It’s our Christmas Special! Looks like Santa’s coming earlier than expected for some lucky winners on the show today! Plus – what is The Holy City like – we find out in song and a chat, watch a light fight, stroll through Strasbourg, get some economic snippets and check out the new VAT. ...

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Christmas – a message of Hope – By Dr. Remy Perumal – Retired Consultant Physician & Journalist, in the UK “ Hope is a waking dream” – Aristotle”   Today the world is in turmoil!  Still recovering from the Pandemic, there are devastating consequences of conflict and the scourge of climate change, to contend with..  Also  the unprovoked attack on innocent civilians and hostage taking, has resulted in  uncertainty, torment and anguish. These together with the unbridgeable vacuum created by personal loss, pain and suffering, is visibly palpable.  Loss of direction in the lives of those affected by these tragic events, will haunt them for the rest of their lives. They will be  harbouring immeasurable hatred, towards their aggressor.  So, as we prepare to ‘deck the halls with boughs of holly and switch on  the twinkling lights of the decorated  Christmas tree, the question that will be foremost in our ...

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AWAY IN A MANGER – A Christmas CARD – By Ernest Macintyre Image Source : catholic-daily-reflections NO CRIB FOR A BED Both during Christmas festivities as well as prayers of thanks in the season, a mediating thought can be  that God appeared on earth amongst the poor. Why?  There are some suggestive indicators from which a design may be worked out. It was probably a recognition that the great multitudes on earth were these materially unfortunate people . It is not that the more fortunate classes were neglected by The Lord but as the Bible  quotes Jesus as saying in Luke 18:25 that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” It is also in the Qur’an of Islam. The “Eye of the Needle” was in fact a narrow gateway into Jerusalem. Since camels were heavily ...

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An Inspirational Message for the Month of December 2023 – By Charles Schokman Christmas Image Source : Menyekanaburundi Facebook It was in the night that the Shepard saw the most amazing thing. It was seen first by a few, those who kept watch, but then they awoke the others from their slumber. It made them wonder why the night sky was like this, why a new star, why the heavens shimmered, why the earth glowed, eclipsed the normal constellations. As they gathered around the fires, the heavens were a blaze and burned with brilliance-their wonder turned to fear, for they sensed the magnitude of the night, for the world they knew would never be the same. It seems that we so often meet the divine with fear. Do we fear what we must leave behind, or fear more where we must go? We fear the unfamiliar and find safety in the ...

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