Christmas Tree becomes Chinese New Year Tree

Feb 15, 2019

IPOH: The Christmas Tree at St Michael’s Church (SMC) has been transformed into a Chinese New Year tree.

With red satin cloth enveloping the main trunk, and the branches decorated with peonies and cherry blossoms, there are also row upon row of lanterns, small, medium and large, all lit and hung upon the tree. A top the tree there is a large illuminated cross.

With the lights on, it’s a glittering red, festive spectacle that is the colour of happiness and prosperity to welcome in the Lunar New Year of the Boar.

SMC parish priest Fr Anthony Liew, after switching on the lights of the CNY tree on Feb 1 after the 8.00pm Mass, said the tree of lanterns showed the Light of Christ in the church, and the abundance of God's blessings upon us.

Before the Lighting ceremony, Fr Liew said a prayer for the big family of SMC, and thanked God for all the blessings showered upon the people. He also thanked God for the gift of the people who share their various talents and skills to help build the kingdom of God in the parish.

After the lanterns were lighted at the flick of a switch, the crowd applauded, and then sang the Our Father in Mandarin.

The sponsored tree with 288 lanterns is the effort of a team of 20 parishioners from the Chinese-speaking section of SMC.

Led by William and Lili Fong, they came up with ideas on how to make a creative design that would reflect the New Year and also welcome new comers to the parish.

Together they took three days, coming to the church daily after work, and working till midnight, to finish the task.