Who doesn't love Christmas right? With
all its lights, festivity and spirit of goodwill, fun, laughter and gift giving.
In a demonstration of all the above,
there is no better place to view this than in a well-known street in Melbourne
called The Boulevard in Ivanhoe East.
Visit of the Magi
Photo copyright Maria Ngo
Here for several weeks a year leading
into Christmas, queues of cars line up from all directions to enter this famous
street that tops every list of Christmas lights in Melbourne list. One side of
this street is closed to traffic and the other lane is kept for pedestrian use.
It felt rather odd to be walking on the street in such fashion though.
There were even pedestrian crossing
supervisors to direct traffic and there are food vans and paramedics on hand.
Porta-loos (for able bodied and wheelchair users) and free water were also
sighted at the nearby field.
A well organised event
Photo copyright Maria Ngo
There were many decorative themes that
people have chosen. Some remind me of Doctor Who episodes with almost life size toy soldiers, drummer boys and wooden toys. Then there were those
that made me think of Las Vegas with its grand entrances,, sumptuous hotels and well proportioned casinos.
You're welcome here
Photo copyright Maria Ngo
There were those who choose more simple
decorations with themselves sitting in the living room watching TV and adding
to the Christmas spirit in the street and neighbourhood - what could be more
sublime than a person nonchalantly watching TV in their living room with a
Christmas tree in the background seemingly oblivious to the thousands upon
thousands of pairs of eyes gawking at them in their living room carrying on with their life as normal.
There was even one home that reminded me
of a wedding - it was all done up in white - including the figures in their
garden - alas these were hidden behind a hedge which I didn't feel like
intruding upon because they were having a party in their front yard.
Bright and white
Photo copyright Maria Ngo
Another house had us bursting out
singing "It's a small world after all." Once you see it you'll know
why it had that effect on us.
It's a small world
Photo copyright Maria Ngo
One house in particular had a Homer Simpson figure
singing Christmas songs and calling out "Doh!" in the driveway.
There were the usual Santa in the
chimney decoration, Santa with his troupe of reindeers, Santa on a motorbike
and Santa driving a bulldozer - how quaint but also how Australian with our
huge acreage of farmland necessitating heavy farm machinery to get the job
done.
There were also many homes that had
chosen to make the nativity scene their main decorative theme. These came in
various sizes and construction material. There were cut out figures and there were 3D
figurines. There was one where Mary was holding baby Jesus in her arms which
was about life size and appeared to be made of some plant material.
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| Each with a story to tell and their own unique style Photo copyright Maria Ngo |
However people chose to decorate their
homes, whether simply with strings of lights or with figures of some sort or
other, they added to the joy and glee of young and old alike as they paraded
down the street marvelling and oohing and aahhing at each one.
It is only with the generous heart and
spirit and cooperation of all the households in this street that this event is
possible each year - you will find it extremely hard if not impossible to get
out of your driveway come 7.30PM and this lasts until at least 11:30PM each
night during this period if you lived along this street.
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| Saint Nicholas giving gifts Photo copyright Maria Ngo |
Upon reflecting on our recent visit to
this place, while it was true that some houses stood out and went all out to
make theirs a grand decorative effect, even the smaller more subtle decorations
along the way contributed and added to the atmosphere and the experience of The
Boulevard. And this is what living in community means - each playing their
part, whether big or small, each contributing to the greater picture, the greater good and a flourishing community.
