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A Tropical Snowstorm: Christmas in Singapore
November 23rd, 2009
The leaves aren’t falling off the trees. There is no temperature change whatsoever. People still go outside wearing the same shorts that they wore in July. But, although the forecast may inform locals of 88 degree sunshine with slight overcast and a possibility of showers in the afternoon (as it does for the other 364 days of the year), Singapore’s city dwellers know Christmas is coming.
Festive lights have irradiated Orchard Road, the city center, since October. But the newest addition to this colorful street is Tanglin Mall’s snowstorm. At precisely 7:45 and 8:45 every day of November and December, a miracle occurs: it snows in Singapore.
Well, not really.
To those who have never seen snow, it’s amazing. Tanglin Mall draws hundreds of people each night just to see this spectacle where they are able to see snow while wearing flip flops. For me, someone who has braved many New England winters, it’s just bubbles. But, if you stand back, look up, and try to forget that you’re in Singapore surrounded by palm trees and wearing flip flops, it kind of looks like snow. Kind of. Maybe you need to squint. And for my 7-year-old sister, that’s plenty.
Born in Hong Kong, my sister has spent every “winter” either in Singapore or the Philippines. The coldest weather she’s experienced was when she went ice skating. When we reached Tanglin Mall, her eyes light up with the same sparkle as the giant candy-canes as she rushed towards the “snow” machine by the gingerbread house.
“I’ve always wanted to see snow!” she says, gleefully. Eying the mounds of bubbles on the slippery floor, I remind her that this isn’t actually snow. It’s just really small bubbles made from fancy chemicals. She’s not fazed. This is the Winter Wonderland that she has dreamed of.
Our trees might still be green and our flip flops still get use, but we know Christmas is coming with bright lights, music, and Singapore’s version of a snowstorm.
Comments:
19 Responses to “A Tropical Snowstorm: Christmas in Singapore”
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It's hard for many of us to imagine never having seen snow! Does it really feel like Christmas when it's so warm out?
Have you ever been anywhere to see a white Christmas?
Anonymous-
I think it feels like Christmas because of Christmas music, Santa Claus hats being sold, and the crazy decorations that are EVERYWHERE. In all the malls, there are Christmas trees. One mall has one that reaches two storeys every year. I'm pretty sure it's not real, though. Office buildings also try to get the biggest tree possible. The other thing is that, although it's the same temperature year-round, stores sell full coats along with darker colors.
Today was alternate dress day. Without thinking, I wore my new dark jeans and grey shirt. Turns out, a lot of people had the same idea. Looking around right now, everyone seems to be wearing black, grey, and blue when last month everyone was wearing bright colors. Also, people wear boots and long sleeve shirts. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose they're able to because Singapore is an air-conditioned city.
So…there are a lot of things that make it feel like Christmas.
Hye Sung-
I was born January 15th in Washington D.C. and lived there for two years so I've been in snow since before I can remember. For all of my Christmases I've been in either Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, or, more frequently, Massachusetts. We have a lot of snow there.
I'm sure at least one of my Christmases in New England (probably about 7) was a White Christmas, but I've definitely seen snow during my winter break a bunch of times. I'm going back this winter, too.
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