Whether the weather is cold or not, Christmas is coming and about 40,000 Catholic and Protestant followers in Hanoi are eagerly awaiting their biggest annual church festival.
Father Chu Duc Minh at St Joseph ’s Cathedral in the heart of Hanoi has been busy preparing for Christmas Eve Mass, the most important event of the Catholic Christmas season, while watching over the decoration of a fir tree, the cave where Christ was born, and other places in and outside the church.
Father Minh revealed that choir service on Christmas Eve this year will be performed both inside the main hall and at the grand seminary courtyard so all followers can join in and sing along with the choir.
Maria Duong Thien Nga, a follower at the Cathedral Church parish, recalled that in the past Christmas was celebrated mainly in the religious community, but the focus has changed.
“Christmas becomes a community celebration and it is held merrily in many public sites nowadays,” Nga said.
Though not a Catholic follower, Phan Thuy Ha, a resident in Ly Thuong Kiet street , was enthusiastic about the approach of Christmas.
Ha said on the occasion she always had a fir tree decorated with rows of gold and white lights to welcome the new year.
Though there is two days more to go Christmas, a festive atmosphere has been evident in the main streets, buildings and hotels in Hanoi for weeks.
Sofitel Plaza Hanoi has completed the making of a fir tree assembled from balloons while Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has turned on 5,000 light bulbs to greet its customers and passers-by./.
Father Chu Duc Minh at St Joseph ’s Cathedral in the heart of Hanoi has been busy preparing for Christmas Eve Mass, the most important event of the Catholic Christmas season, while watching over the decoration of a fir tree, the cave where Christ was born, and other places in and outside the church.
Father Minh revealed that choir service on Christmas Eve this year will be performed both inside the main hall and at the grand seminary courtyard so all followers can join in and sing along with the choir.
Maria Duong Thien Nga, a follower at the Cathedral Church parish, recalled that in the past Christmas was celebrated mainly in the religious community, but the focus has changed.
“Christmas becomes a community celebration and it is held merrily in many public sites nowadays,” Nga said.
Though not a Catholic follower, Phan Thuy Ha, a resident in Ly Thuong Kiet street , was enthusiastic about the approach of Christmas.
Ha said on the occasion she always had a fir tree decorated with rows of gold and white lights to welcome the new year.
Though there is two days more to go Christmas, a festive atmosphere has been evident in the main streets, buildings and hotels in Hanoi for weeks.
Sofitel Plaza Hanoi has completed the making of a fir tree assembled from balloons while Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has turned on 5,000 light bulbs to greet its customers and passers-by./.
