(photograph © Kiwidutch)
We are in the alpine village of Hanmer Springs, in the South Island of New Zealand.
This is the concluding part of yesterday’s post as I take you back on a trip we made this last Christmas to New Zealand… here we are attending the Christmas festivities in the village.
The Santa Christmas Parade is in full swing and everyone is having a great time. The siren from the fire engine is blaring, it’s lights are flashing, both of which are delighting and terrifying my son at the same time since he adore fire engines and the like but is rather scared of all the noise.
The pipe band is playing and the festive spirit of the holidays is definitely here.
The kids are having a competition to see who can collect the most sweets that are being thrown from the floats.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
At the end of the parade, everyone gathers on the Green on the main street and Santa, and the youngest children all receive a small gift from Santa and his helpers.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
The wind is picking up as we go to leave and we take our delighted and excited kids home.
Kiwidutch, I had to laugh, because this looks just like our local Fourth of July parade (except for Santa, of course). Lots of tractors pulling floats, very similar to those in your pictures; people dressed up in “Uncle Sam” costumes; even a bagpipe band! I used to live in the city that annually hosts the nationally-televised Rose Parade on New Years Day, but these little home-made parades are more fun.
Comment by blisterina — March 30, 2010 @ 6:01 pm |
I find these wonderful! the community spirit is alive and well, and bagpipes really are amazing for “drawing people in” to watch, even if you are not really into bagpipe music at any other time.LOL. Don’t you just love “Santa’s little helpers” !?(members of the local Day Care group) I thought that they were georgous.. and the little rugby club dudes
It might not have been to clear but the Thermal Pools are the ones with the massive truck and sign, the Santa on the sign says H-2-0,-H-2-0-, H-2-0, ( instead of Ho-Ho-Ho)which I thought was rather a clever play on words.
Comment by kiwidutch — March 31, 2010 @ 7:42 am |