More than 100 members of the Sault’s Malayalee community celebrated Jingle Bells 2022 - a Christmas and New Year’s celebration - at The Marconi Cultural Event Centre on Tuesday.
The Malayalee people come from the state of Kerala on the southwestern coast of India.
The Sault Ste. Marie Malayalee Association (SMA) was formed “a couple of months back and this was our first in person event,” wrote Jinse Sunny, SMA general secretary in an email to SooToday.
“SMA intends to foster friendship and create strong links between our community so that newcomers to the Sault get help, and to organize events for kids to bring them together and teach them about our culture and blend them with the Canadian lifestyle,” Sunny wrote.
The event included Santa Claus, dance, music and Christmas carols.
“It brought back nostalgia of Kerala's traditional Christmas celebration and was enjoyed by one and all,” Sunny wrote.
The evening’s festivities included approximately 20 children performing an action song with Christmas-themed clothing and hats, performances by trained dancers and carols sung in Malayalam.
“We left the stage open for volunteers to perform and showcase their talent and for people to introduce themselves to others,” Sunny wrote.
The event ended with a full course meal including starters and a non-vegetarian biryani (rice dish) and Indian dessert.
“When the program was about to end people were longing for the program not to end, with the happiness of forming new friendships and a community to network with and celebrate the spirit of Christmas,” Sunny wrote.
The Sault Malayalee Association has launched its official website to let others know about the SMA and upcoming events.
Prior to Jingle Bells 2022, SMA held a selfie contest with two categories - ‘Me and my Friend’ and ‘My Family’ - the selfies taken in front of an historical site or tourist attraction in Sault Ste. Marie, enabling newcomers to get a chance to know more about the Sault and its history. Prizes were awarded.
SMA has also launched an official WhatsApp group for the Sault Malayalee Association, sharing information such as job opportunities and news of activities that will be of interest to its members.
Sunny wrote that the SMA is there for the benefit of students and families who have not yet heard about the Sault Malayalee Association and wants to offer a helping hand to those in need.