Christmas is a time of gifts and celebration.

It is also a time of giving.

No Christmas is complete without Santa Claus, dressed in red and white.

Nor is it complete without the singing of songs like Jingle Bells.

By Anh Thư

HCM CITY — While people are choosing decorations for Christmas trees and gifts for relatives and friends, their children have only one thing in mind: Santa Claus and the gifts he is likely to bring.  

In HCM City, many supermarkets, shops, restaurants and amusement centres are offering customers free delivery of gifts by Santa during the Christmas week.

The tourist company Vietprotour said the number of customers asking for men made up as Santa has increased rapidly this season.  

“We choose tubby people for the role because kids expect a plump Santa,” said a Vietprotour representative.

Other companies like Saigon Entertainment Event, Rồng Việt Tour and Noel Xmas House Delivery are also offering the service.

Most companies charge VNĐ130,000 -230,000 (US$5.5-10) for a visit, with the figure doubling on Christmas Eve.    

Some companies offer special services ranging from VNĐ520,000 ($20) to VNĐ1 million ($49) for a Santa, two to five elves, and a sleigh.

As in previous years, the Youth Cultural House and Children Cultural House will send young volunteers to spread Christmas cheer to disadvantaged children.

Hundreds of volunteers, dressed in Santa Claus's traditional red-and-white costume, will visit shelters and open houses in rural districts, offering toys and gifts donated by sponsors.  

"We want Christmas to be about giving and making all children happy," said volunteer Trần Thanh Sang of the HCM City University of Law. 

On Christmas Eve, Sang and other volunteers at the Youth Cultural House will offer gifts to poor children living in District 8.

“I will be a plump man in a red costume and enjoy the screams of 'Hello! Mr Noel' from the kids who will sing Jingle Bells loudly together,” said Sang, adding that he hopes that all children meet Santa and receive gifts.

Decorations

This year, a large range of locally made Christmas gifts and ornaments is available.

A Christmas tree with eye-catching decorations costs between VNĐ300,000 ($15) and VNĐ1 million, while a wide variety of locally-designed cards are available at an average price of VNĐ22,000 (1$).  

Christmas ornaments are selling for VNĐ10,000 ($0.4) at many souvenir shops and supermarkets.

Shopping centres began their Christmas promotion sales last weekend, offering gifts and discounts on consumers goods, food and entertainment.  

“We hope our crazy sales of up to 50 per cent or more will help residents and visitors celebrate the festive season with gusto,” said an owner of a jewelry shop in District 1.  

Vietnamese bakeries such as Kinh Đô, Givral, Brodard and Hỷ Lâm Môn are offering all kinds of Christmas cakes and candies starting at VNĐ150,000 ($6).

Restaurants and hotels have also announced special deals on food and music as well as fashion and magic shows for adults, and prices reduced by half for children on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.  

“I believe that a good year is coming to us," Sang said. — VNS

GLOSSARY

While people are choosing decorations for Christmas trees and gifts for relatives and friends, their children have only one thing in mind: Santa Claus and the gifts he is likely to bring.  

Gifts are presents.

In HCM City, many supermarkets, shops, restaurants and amusement centres are offering customers free delivery of gifts by Santa during the Christmas week.

Amusement centres are places where people have fun.

“We choose tubby people for the role because kids expect a plump Santa,” said a Vietprotour representative.

Tubby and plump both mean “fat” or “chubby”.

Most companies charge VNĐ130,000 -230,000 (US$5.5-10) for a visit, with the figure doubling on Christmas Eve.    

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas.

Some companies offer special services ranging from VNĐ520,000 ($20) to VNĐ1 million ($49) for a Santa, two to five elves, and a sleigh.

Elves are make-believe little male fairies.

A sleigh is a cart that slides across the snow and is pulled by reindeer in the Christmas story.

As in previous years, the Youth Cultural House and Children Cultural House will send young volunteers to spread Christmas cheer to disadvantaged children.

Volunteers are people who do not expect to be paid for work that they do.

Hundreds of volunteers, dressed in Santa Claus's traditional red-and-white costume, will visit shelters and open houses in rural districts, offering toys and gifts donated by sponsors.  

Donated means “gave”.

Sponsors are people who give money to a cause.

“I will be a plump man in a red costume and enjoy the screams of 'Hello! Mr Noel' from the kids who will sing Jingle Bells loudly together,” said Sang, adding that he hopes that all children meet Santa and receive gifts.

Noel means Christmas in French.

This year, a large range of locally made Christmas gifts and ornaments is available.

Ornaments are things that are placed in an area like a room or garden to make it look more beautiful and more interesting.

Shopping centres began their Christmas promotion sales last weekend, offering gifts and discounts on consumers goods, food and entertainment.  

Discounts are cuts in prices.

Consumers goods are things that people buy and use.

“We hope our crazy sales of up to 50 per cent or more will help residents and visitors celebrate the festive season with gusto,” said an owner of a jewelry shop in District 1.  

“With gusto” means “with enthusiasm, enjoyment and energy”

Restaurants and hotels have also announced special deals on food and music as well as fashion and magic shows for adults, and prices reduced by half for children on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.  

Reduced means “cut”.

New Year’s Eve is the day before New Year’s Day.

WORKSHEET

State whether the following sentences are true, or false:

1. Christmas Eve is on December 24.
2. New Year’s Eve is on January 1.
3. Somebody dressed as Santa Claus gives gifts to children at Christmas.
4. Thin, skinny people are usually chosen to act as Santa Claus.
5. Santa Claus is often called “Mr Know All”.

ANSWERS: 1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. False; 5. False.