It is December and Christmas is coming to the Cook Islands.
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Yes, by the time we arrive in mid December the Capital, Avarua is getting decked out for Christmas. With Father Christmas, sleigh and reindeer all strung out along the main drive are lit up at night.
The supermarket just off the main drive has a good show of goods for sale, especially for those who are celebrating big family reunions.
As I have mentioned earlier in my previous postings the Cook Islanders are very religious, due to the early influence of missionries who came and settled. No sport is played on a Sunday, and for those who have to work in the service industry, there is a service at 5:00 a.m.
St. Joseph's Cathedral is the largest of the many churches on the island, of which there are a great many. Some services are in the Maori tongue and some are in English, as all islanders are fully bi-lingual.
The Christmas manger scene is usually errected during the second week of December and made from local materials, mainly plaited palm fronds. The floral decorations are changed every day by local parisioners. I have been told that there is very strong competition among the ladies to be part of the daily redecorating team.
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