Christmas Celebrations in Cambodia--2001

Decorating the Sisters' House -- 21 December

Decorating Christmas cookies In a long-standing tradition that started last year, the Maryknoll sisters have invited the rest of the Maryknoll community here in Phnom Penh to come over to their house to put up Christmas decorations and have dinner. This year they also added Christmas cookie decoration for the children of their neighbors and their motorcycle taxi drivers. Here John Tucker demonstrates some of the finer points of cookie decoration.

Decorating Christmas cookies The sisters baked some simple cookies and then provided bowls of colored icing for the children to use. Jars of sprinkles and other adornments added more color and sparkle. The children didn't even know they were looking at Christmas trees and angels, not being familiar with those traditions, but they were not at a loss to add a lot of color to the cookies.

Putting up Christmas decorations While the little kids were busy at the kitchen table, the big kids put up various decorations around the house and in the front yard of the sisters' place. Here Rachel Smith, Regina Pellicore, and Charlie Dittmeier all get into the act.

Setting up the nativity scene The sisters have a nativity set with a veritable cast of thousands. Not all the figures match but they all get displayed each year. Here Mary Little and Bill Burns unpack and arrange all the pieces in the living room. After the children went home and the house was decorated, all the Maryknollers enjoyed a Christmas pizza dinner.

Go to Christmas Celebrations in Cambodia 2001

	In a long-standing tradition that started last year, the Maryknoll sisters have invited the rest of the Maryknoll community here in Phnom Penh to come over to their house to put up Christmas decorations and have dinner. This year they also added Christmas cookie decoration for the children of their neighbors and their motorcycle taxi drivers. Here John Tucker demonstrates some of the finer points of cookie decoration.
	The sisters baked some simple cookies and then provided bowls of colored icing for the children to use. Jars of sprinkles and other adornments added more color and sparkle. The children didn't even know they were looking at Christmas trees and angels, not being familiar with those traditions, but they were not at a loss to add a lot of color to the cookies.
	While the little kids were busy at the kitchen table, the big kids put up various decorations around the house and in the front yard of the sisters' place. Here Rachel Smith, Regina Pellicore, and Charlie Dittmeier all get into the act.
	The sisters have a nativity set with a veritable cast of thousands. Not all the figures match but they all get displayed each year. Here Mary Little and Bill Burns unpack and arrange all the pieces in the living room. After the children went home and the house was decorated, all the Maryknollers enjoyed a Christmas pizza dinner.