Christmas celebrations at the DI started with the traditional Christmas Light-up on Friday 14 December. Little members, who had been practising for the Carols evening, gathered around as Santa on the bicycle was lit up. The bicycle riding Santa looked splendid and soon all the Christmas lights were lit making our DI look DI-lightful. A loud cheer marked the beginning of the Yuletide season.

The much awaited Children's Christmas Tree day, 16 December was soon here. DI looked magical as it laid out the proverbial red carpet for Santa and all our young and adult members. The courtyard and the lawns looked pretty with the canopy of red and white making the DI look festive against the grey sky.  Tables were set up for the traditional tea party to follow. Red and green table cloths donned each table. Members basked in the festive spirit as they sipped tea. Children ran about, much like Santa's busy elves as they rushed to enjoy all the treats DI had lovingly laid out for its littlest members.

Most children chose to dress in the colours of the season - red, green and white. Parents sat on their tables whilst their children enjoyed all the treats laid out for them.

The multi-sports arena housed bouncies, ball pools, merry go round for children under 6 years. For the older children bouncies, golf putting, rock climbing, bowling were the fun filled activities that awaited. Children lined up for fresh hot popcorn and candy-floss. The tattoo artist was busy painting children's favourite tattoos.  
Members and children lined up by the pool to collect the pretty Christmassy red boxes of delicious goodies- both savory and sweet.

Soon it was time for Santa to arrive.    Children sat in the badminton court as the brilliant emcee, Barry Antunis, engaged them in a short Christmas trivia quiz. Parents could play along with their children and a grandfather with his grandchild won the quiz. Packets of chips were the crisp prizes for each correct answer.  The emcee sang jingle bells with the children as they waited for Santa to arrive. 
Bells were heard, followed by loud cheers as Santa arrived and took seat beside the beautiful Christmas tree. 

 
The much awaited time had come for the children to receive their gifts from Santa. Aniruddha and Shaheen, were Santa's helpers as they announced the names of our DI children, starting from the littlest members, some still in the comfort of their parents laps. Children waited patiently for their turn to go to Santa. Over 330 children received  gifts from Santa. 

  
DI cares not only for its members but also for our beautiful planet. All gifts were wrapped in newspaper with pretty Santas, stockings and Christmas trees hand-cut from glitter Green and Red for boys and girls of different ages. All gifts had a sticker with an important message - DALHOUSIE INSTITUTE GOES GREEN! DI's way of teaching our kids a new way of life!  This valuable gift of teaching the values of being responsible and valuing our planet was appreciated by both parents and children alike. 
Gifts children received from Santa included wooden educational toys, ice cream making play dough set, in-house  footballs, Countdown - a word game, the popular game 'Sequence' and Gift vouchers from Starmark. 
Festivities continued till late, despite the drizzle, as members enjoyed the music and lovely evening. Children soon rushed off to their familiar and ever favourite Uncle Alan's play area as the evening faded away.

An event of this magnitude executed so beautifully required tremendous planning and  hard work. The entire Entertainment committee, supported by the DI Council, made it all happen. Kudos to them!

[Editorial note:  We are informed that we are probably the only club in the city to have everything done by its members.  Nothing is outsourced. The decorations, the trimming of the tree, the wrapping of each and every gift, Santa himself, laying of tables, choosing of treats for the tea boxes, anchoring, music  ... are prepared for several days (and nights) by the members who volunteer to help. Thank you all.]