Ilkeston - Christmas
Scenes
w/e 19 December
2004
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
Latin American rhythms rang
around Bath Street, East Street and the Lower Market Place on
a bright and sunny day last week and brought an additional touch
of sunshine to the Christmas shoppers. With tunes like "Guantanamera"
it was hardly your traditional Christmas music but very welcome
nonetheless.
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In a lengthy preamble to last
week's page of Shop
Windows I noted that many organisations in the UK have, in
short, banned Christmas activities on their premises. This could
not be further from the truth though in at least one local bank
where customers were invited to share a drink and a mince pie.
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Ilkeston's Market Place looks
very festive with coloured bulbs and floodlights decorating not
only the buildings but also the trees that are permanent fixtures
there. In addition two temporary Christmas trees have been placed
at opposite corners of the Market and these too, are brightly
lit.
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But it's not just the public
buildings in town that have been lit up as many darker side streets
have been brightened by the addition of flashing lights and and
inflatable snowmen and Santas on private dwellings. Dale Street
is typical of many streets throughout Ilkeston that have been
decorated in a festive manner.
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Interiors too have been decorated
in preparation for the 25th and St Mary's Church is no exception
where Advent candles burn in front of the the garlanded pulpit.
A Christmas tree stands at the back of the church and there is
also a Nativity scene as well as many floral displays.
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And it's not just in church
that Nativity scenes are to be found. This cute set was one of
several on sale at a local garden centre and it is perhaps a
fitting final image to this selection. After all, among all the
commercialisation, the decorations, the music, the lights, the
food and drink we should first and foremost remember that what
we are in fact celebrating, is the birth of a child some 2000
years ago.
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a
census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the
first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of
Syria.) So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee
to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. He went there to register
with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting
a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to
be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped
him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was
no room for them in the inn." - from Luke's Gospel.
".... And he (Joseph) gave him the name Jesus." - Matthew
1:25
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