Deck the halls…

Stores and hotels in the city dress up for Christmas

December 12, 2014 07:34 pm | Updated 07:34 pm IST - Thiruvananthapuram

Christmas decoration in front of Pothys Photo: S. Mahinsha

Christmas decoration in front of Pothys Photo: S. Mahinsha

It’s a white Christmas in many places in the city. Even the unseasonal rain has not dampened the fervour of customers because it is that time of the year when Santa Claus comes calling. While the rain paints the skies grey, it is bright and warm inside these upmarket hotels and shopping centres that are glittering with lights and Christmas cheer.

It is also the season of mega shopping sprees and hotels and shopping centres are cashing in on the carnival atmosphere with attractive offers for all age groups. In fact, Christmas arrived quite early at Pothys, the mega shopping centre near Ayurveda College. For days now, it has been the cynosure of all eyes with its silvery entrance decorated with angels, Santas, reindeer et al. Footfalls increased substantially in the evenings with families queuing up to say cheese with the reindeer and the angels.

“We have a team of artisans in Chennai who regularly do such work for us. It took nearly a month for them to complete this. The Santa at the entrance is 21 ft high and we have a Christmas tree of the same height inside. In addition, on each floor there are various decorations in keeping with the spirit of Christmas,” says a spokesperson in Pothys.

The high-end restaurants are not lacking in Christmas spirit too. If the cake mixing ceremony kept chefs busy in November, since the beginning of December, they have been on their toes to usher in the spirit of celebrations.

Karumariappan S., pastry chef of Hotel Hilton Garden Inn, has a house full of goodies for visitors with the star attraction being a ginger biscuit house, chocolate Christmas trees and loads of gifts. The house has a plywood base with walls and roof made of ginger biscuits that have been glued together with royal icing. “The walls have 222 tiles and the roof has 1,090. In fact, we have used 64 kg maida, 1,200 g salt, 32 kg honey, 6.4 kg sugar and 1.8 kg ginger powder. The dough was kept for a day and then it was cut into the required shapes. It was dried thoroughly, because if moisture is there fungus will grow on it,” he says.

The two chocolate trees, one in white chocolate and the other in rich brown, and decorated with flowers made of royal icing, are certainly the fruit of labour. The 4 ft- tall trees were made in just a day, he says. “We are so used to seeing artificial trees that I wanted to make something different. The trees have a plastic base,” he says. Santa on the sleigh made with rolled fondant and gum paste, a thermocol deer painted with chocolate and synthetic cotton to give the snowy feel complete the fare. A Christmas house made of rolled fondant with Santas and snowmen and a chocolate showpiece exhibited at the restaurant are added attractions.

Villa Maya, however, will be moving away from the usual colour themes and motifs of Christmas. “Our interiors are decorated to welcome the season in high spirits with the air filled with classic Christmas carols. We are launching numerous green initiatives such as decoratives made of recyclable paper materials and wood, and wreaths and ribbons made of recycled, old fabrics. Our candle light Christmas eve dinner would be around a beeswax or soy candle that doesn’t emit carcinogenic fumes and pollutants. Even the table decorations are unique and innovative,” says Shashi Jacob, vice-president and corporate chef, Muthoot Skychef.

At Vivanta by Taj – Trivandrum, Thycaud, the scene is set for a merry Christmas, with a decked up Christmas tree. Completing the décor would be goodies available at its restaurant, Caramel. Christmas cookies, chocolates, puddings, cakes, and a range of Christmas hampers with an assortment of wine, bread, pudding, chocolate, aromatic candles, dry fruits and Christmas glitters are in the list.

Vivanta by Taj, Kovalam, will greet merrymakers with a 10-ft tall snowy Christmas tree laden with gifts. Pillars, staircases and tables will be dressed up for the occasion.

In addition to the decor, at Pothys there is plenty of kitsch and activities for revellers and their families too. On the first floor, customers can strike a pose in a Willys jeep or dress up as cowboys while women can slip into angelic gowns. Tattoo artists from Kumbakonam, carol singing, concerts and staff members dressed up as Santa add to the fun.

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