Media Release
 
Chicago, Nov 19, 2006: As it is every year, Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry is having their Christmas Around the World celebration and Holiday Festival of Lights exhibits. The holidays are a special time to explore, share, learn and spend some quality time with our families. As we walked through the trees decorated with different national ornaments representing various nations of the world, the feeling of Christmas being celebrated among different nations and cultures came to light.

With the theme, "Dashing through the Snow," it is no surprise that this year’s Christmas Around the World celebration pays homage to winter’s most celebrated and chilly companion: snow. With flakes under foot, explore the Museum of Science and Industry’s Grand Tree in the Rotunda. Snow and ice crystals grace the branches with iridescent purple, blue and silver hues.

Christmas Around the World began in 1942 as a United Nations Day salute to American Allies (friends) during World War II. The tribute consisted of one strong symbol – one single Christmas tree. Today, the exhibit rings in the Christmas spirit with more than 50 decorated trees and displays each adorned according to holiday customs from around the world. Community and various cultural groups donate their time to decorate the trees according to their national traditions. Fun fact is, Museum hangs more than 55,000 lights on its trees for Christmas Around the World.

This year the following countries took part in decorating the trees: Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hawaii, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Native American, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Slovakia, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA and Wales.
 
This year, holiday performances started at the Museum on November 18th and will continue until January 1 - a total of 49 performances from various groups and bands on every Saturday and Sunday. Today Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association had their performance at the Museum. Crystal Rodrigues sang US national anthem at the beginning of the program. MKCA Joint Secretary, Mark Rodrigues welcomed the gathering and Past President Austin Prabhu, emcee the occasion and gave a brief history of Christianity in India. He said that even before Christianity started in Europe, there were Christians in India who were baptized by St. Thomas, apostle of Jesus Christ who came to India to spread Christianity in the year AD 56.

 
As a part of Indian Dance Performance, Pranita Jain, Artistic Director of Kalapriaya Dance Academy from Chicago had her students perform Bharathanatyam. Krithi explained to the audience that Indian dance started in India about 2,000 years ago and it shows India's rich culture and heritage. Audience from various countries who attended this event were thrilled to see Indian Dance and applauded as their appreciation to the dancers after each dance.
 
Then we had several performances by the students of Nupur Dance Academy, Naperville headed by Sonia Agarwal. All young kids under 15 years of age danced to the music from Bollywood movies and audience started clapping to the music.
Emcee Austin Prabhu introduced Rev. Dr. Concelia Fernandes, MBBS, MD, DGO, Medical Superintendent of Vijay Marie Hospital, Saifabad, Hyderabad who was the guest in the midst of audience.
 
MKCA Choir headed by Dorothy Rego sang several Chirstmas Carrols in Konkani and one in Kannada. Daphnie Fernandes accompanied the choir on piano. There was a live crib with five angels, Jossie Mendonca as St. Joseph and Edna Mascarenhas as Mother Mary. MKCA Santa Claus Lig Martis surprised the crowd with his appearance while singing Jingle Bells. The entire Mangalorean cultural program lasted approximately two hours."
 
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