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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